Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics the New York chapter of the American Cancer Society October 7, warned that the latest statistics from the Department of Health show a large percentage of cancer survivors continue to smoke. Thirty-two percent of New Yorkers between 18 and 44 who have received a cancer diagnosis are smoking, compared to 14 percent of those in the same age group who have never had a cancer diagnosis. For those between 45 and 64, 16 percent of cancer survivors smoke. “These numbers are truly appalling because despite already hearing the chilling words ‘you have cancer,’ dramatic numbers of New Yorkers are still dealing with a deadly tobacco addiction,” said Julie Hart, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network senior government relations director. Hart said the statistics indicate there must be a more aggressive approach to fighting smoking and called for an increase in the state's tobacco taxes. “Tobacco taxes are a win-win as they encourage smokers to quit and provide much needed revenue," Hart said. However, New York has not raised most tobacco taxes in 10 years. Hart pushed for the state to increase the tax on tobacco products and to use that revenue to fund the Tobacco Control Program. Read more at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.