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(Originally published in the Almost twice as many women died of lung cancer last year as breast cancer—70,000 versus 40,000. Lung cancer has a 15% survival rate—breast cancer is 88%. Cigarettes contain acetone, same as nail polish and carbon monoxide, same as on the freeway. Cigarettes are made with the most addictive drug—nicotine—which is also used in insecticides. This is a campaign of love for my sister lost to lung cancer. She smoked during high school and college; smoke free for 12 years at the time of her misdiagnosis. They said pneumonia, then they said 6 months to live a lifetime; she fought for almost 3 years. You too can buy time, probably a lifetime for your children or anyone else in your path just by stopping now. Secondhand smoke is critical to the health and well-being of our community, especially to women—20% of the over 70,000 women that died last year of lung cancer never smoked! More women then men die of lung cancer. God made us unique and with cancer it is no exception. We respond differently—estrogen is found in the lung cancer tumors of women! It is not easy to quit—this is an addiction—you need help, support, a reason to quit, motivation and encouragement. You need faith that you can do it and others around that have done it. Ask for help, tell your family and friends you want to quit. Keep busy; take good care of yourself, remember—this is your life! What could be more important to you? Stay away from the places and people associated with smoking. Tell yourself repeatedly that you can do this, others have done it and you can too! I know this is possible—not as a former smoker—but as a former drinker. There comes a point in our lives—mine was 23 years ago—when we have to “face the music” and realize we are hurting ourselves and others. Just because a drug is legal does not make it acceptable. Just because nothing really bad has happened yet does not mean continue. Why did she smoke? She knew about lung cancer, and the dangers. How could she do this to her vibrant beautiful self? She knew about the yellow fingernails, the wrinkled face and the hoarse voice that comes along with smoking. How could she not think of her boys and her sisters? Anger was part of my grief process. I forgave her while writing my book Gifts of Sisterhood for her and to celebrate her life because she learned smoking from dad; a three-pack-a-day smoker for 40 years who died of complications from smoking. Are you willing to be the one to break the chain or will your children become addicts? Contact Patricia L. Brooks, MAOM at patricia@plbrooks.com or 480-250-5556, to schedule a Journey from Grief to Gratitude or Stop Smoking Sister! workshop. She is also the author of Gifts of Sisterhood. |
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