Daily News column for August 10 edition
JUST FOUR short months ago, ABC "World News Tonight" anchor Peter Jennings shared his lung cancer diagnosis with the world. Sunday, the 67-year-old smoker died.
I was a Jennings fan, and like many, I'm saddened by his death. Ironically, he had quit smoking 20 years ago but started again after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
On a personal level, Jennings' death hits home when I think of the smokers whom I love and hold dear to my heart and the very serious health threats created by this addiction.
More than 12 million Americans have died from smoking since the landmark, 1964 Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health linked smoking with cancer and other diseases, according to the federal government. It is also estimated that another 25 million Americans alive today will likely die of smoking-related diseases.
More grim statistics
Right now, more than 35 million Americans are suffering from chronic lung disease. According to the American Lung Association, an estimated 430,700 Americans die each year from smoking-related diseases.
Smoking generates $75 billion in health-care costs and $82 billion in lost productivity - a whooping $157 billion dollars each year, according to the Surgeon General.
Whew, we all pay a heavy price for the "freedom" to smoke. It is simply staggering when you consider this simple fact: approximately 90 percent of lung cancer is caused by smoking.
Lung cancer pure and simple is the No. 1 cancer killer in the United States. Men and women who smoke are more likely to die prematurely - an average of 13.2 and 14.5 years earlier, respectively.
Let's declare a Great American Smokeout today! Why wait until Nov. 17, 2005?
A word to wise women
Sure, "we've come a long way, baby," but smoking cigarettes has nothing to do with liberation, equal pay, being fit, slim, attractive or sexy. If you really want to "liberate" yourself, one of the first things you should do is give up smoking.
Did you know that more women die from lung cancer than breast cancer? That means that close to 180,000 women's lives are snuffed out each year by smoking.
Sure, not everyone who smokes will get lung cancer. But please spare me the e-mails about your uncle who smoked two packs a day, drank corn liquor and lived to a ripe ole age of 100. There are always exceptions, but most of us will not be so lucky. Why play Russian roulette with your life?
I'm so sure that if he had to do it all again, Peter Jennings would never have picked up his first cigarette. Neither celebrity, fame nor money can protect us from the dangers of smoking.
Quit now - it's worth it at any age. If you are 30 and stop now, you will almost entirely eliminate your risk of getting lung cancer. If you're 50, stopping now will reduce your risk by 50 percent.
Want some help quitting? Call the Pennsylvania Quit Line at 877-724-1090.
And if you do quit, I'd love to hear about the strategies you're using and how they work for you. Sharing your success could inspire others.
Comments (3)
Hi Kim,
I am to saddened by Jenning's dealth and another satistic with the smoking habit. I have tried so many times to quit smoking with only one success for 8 months when I was pregnant with my son. That was 12 years ago and shortly after having him, I went back to smoking with no success with quitting. I think I've been smoking since I was about 16 years old, thinking that it was cool.
However I am sick of smoking with teaful eyes.... I still can not stop... I tried everything that my health insurance with help copay for in order for me to quit smoking, the patch, pill, inhaler, patch and pill together. I think I tried everything except for hypmotist.
Help me please......
Posted by Rochelle | August 10, 2005 6:48 PM
Posted on August 10, 2005 18:48
I'm not Kimberly, but I quit 19 months ago using the patch and getting support from www.quitnet.com.
As long as I was close to a computer, quitnet.com was a 24 hour a day support lifeline -- with lots of great info sources, great motivations, and a community of quitters who are always available to coach you through the rough spots. And best of all, it is free. There is a daily thread here where quitters pledge not to smoke for that day. For months, making that pledge was the most important thing I had to do.
The other thing that helped me was to have a quit plan -- that included the patch, but also included a homeopathic remedy, lots of water, lots of cranberry juice, and a stupid amount of carrots. Figure out why and when you smoke (the quitnet site also has quizzes to help you figure this out) and create your quit plan around that.
And remember that it takes 21 days to establish a new habit. Quit for 21 days and it really does get easier.
Good luck!
Posted by cassandra | August 11, 2005 11:06 AM
Posted on August 11, 2005 11:06
I'm a former smoker...started in 1979 and stopped in 2001 (I'm 4 years clean!!!!). Sadly, my motivating factor had less to do with my health and more to do with economics. Cigs went to $3.80 and I was like "Hell, I can think of cheaper ways to kill myself."
My father passed on my 23rd bday in 1984 from lung cancer. I wasn't home to witness his demise. He died just 4 short months of when he was going to join me in Germany for the birth of my daughter.
My fav aunt stopped smoking shortly after my Dad passed, many years later she succumbed to lung cancer...granted, there were probably other variables involved but the tar was still a factor.
The thing about any addiction is that you have to want to stop...and may stop & go many, many times before succeeding...
What kept me from backsliding in some verrryyy stressful moments (like my daughter's teenage years, whew!) was exercise! 'Cause if you're out there walking, running, playing tennis, whatever, those clogged lungs will only get you so far.
Yes, as stated, there are always going to be exceptions...unfortunately, we may not be that exception.
Posted by MBenita | August 11, 2005 11:10 AM
Posted on August 11, 2005 11:10