In observance of National Lung Cancer Awareness month (November), physicians at the Cooper Cancer Institute remind you that cigarette smoking is responsible for approximately one in five deaths in the United States.
In fact, the American Lung Association reports that from 1997 to 2001, smoking killed an average of 438,000 Americans in each of those years. This figure comprises an estimated 259,494 male deaths and 178,408 female deaths annually.
Of those 438,000 smoking-attributable deaths, most were due to lung cancer (123,836). The other smoking-attributable deaths were due to coronary heart disease (86,801), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (90,582) and other airway obstruction.
Excluding adult deaths from exposure to secondhand smoke, adult males lost an average of 13.2 years of life due to smoking, and adult females lost an average of 14.5 years of life due to smoking.
No doubt these figures are grim, but they might help to motivate current smokers who are thinking about – or struggling with – a desire to quit cigarettes for good.
Consider the following health benefits of quitting cigarettes, from the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, 1990:
- 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting, your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
- 1 month to 9 months after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decreases; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the
- ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
- 1 year after quitting, the excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.
- 5 years after quitting, your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 years to 15 years after quitting.
- 10 years after quitting, the lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix and pancreas decreases.
- 15 years after quitting, the risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker.
Consider, too, these immediate rewards of quitting, as well as other rewards that are quick to develop:
- Your breath smells better.
- Stained teeth get whiter.
- Your clothes and hair no longer smell of smoke.
- Yellow (nicotine) stains on your fingertips and fingernails fade.
- Food tastes better.
- Your sense of smell returns to normal.
- Everyday activities like climbing stairs and light housework no longer leave you winded.
- You no longer experience social rejection and/or personal inconvenience within our increasingly smoke-free environments.
- You save a lot of money.
- Remember, no matter how old you are or how long you’ve smoked, quitting will help you live longer, and better. The American Cancer Society reports that people who stop smoking before age 50 cut in half their risk of dying in the next 15 years compared with those who continue to smoke.
Also, ex-smokers are reported to enjoy a higher quality of life than people who continue to smoke, enjoying fewer upper respiratory infections and the peace of mind that comes from knowing they’re doing the right thing.
More is understood today than ever before about the physiological and psychological processes of quitting smoking. With the wide range of methods, materials and medicines available today, smokers have more tools than ever to help them quit cigarettes for good.
For both men and women who want to quit, Cooper’s Smoking Cessation Program, sponsored by the Cooper Cancer Institute, offers science-based therapies that have been found to help people quit. Participants can choose either group treatment programs or individual therapy sessions. Whether enrolled in group classes or private sessions, participants meet with a trained counselor once a week for six weeks. The one-hour group meetings are from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Cooper Cancer Institute, 900 Centennial Boulevard, Voorhees, NJ. Individuals can schedule private sessions at their convenience.
Cost for Cooper’s Smoking Cessation Program is $30 for the six-week series ($5 per session). For those who can’t afford the fee, help with the cost is available. No one will be denied access to the program based on inability to pay.
Registration for Cooper’s Smoking Cessation Program is required. To register, or to learn more about the program, call (856) 673-4254.