Commit to Quit Smoking
Despite all the evidence concerning the dangers of tobacco, more than 44 million Americans continue to smoke. According to the American Cancer Society, about half of all Americans who continue to smoke will die of a smoking-related illness. Lung cancer affects women differently than men, and young women (under 40) are at greater risk for developing lung cancer than young men.
The statistics* tied to lung cancer in women are astounding:
- Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of women in the U.S.
- Of the 213,380 cases of lung cancer diagnosed in the U.S. each year, nearly 98,000 (46%) are in women.
- Over 70,880 women die from lung cancer annually, accounting for 26 percent of cancer deaths among women.
- Lung cancer takes the lives of more women each year than breast, ovarian and uterine cancers combined.
“Smoking is more than a dirty habit,” says Frank Leone, MD, MS, and director of Penn’s Comprehensive Smoking Treatment Program, one of only 10 such programs in the country. “Most people who smoke know the risks, but they are addicted. They expect to suffer uncomfortable side effects while quitting and they are afraid to fail. Our goal is to help them quit, but maintain a normal life and level of comfort during the process.”
Tips On Preparing To Quit
Each year, about 440,000 people in the United States die from illness related to cigarette smoking: more than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide and illegal drugs combined.**
Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term benefits for you and your loved ones.
The following tips can help you kick your smoking habit:
S - Set a quit date. Pick a date within the next 2 weeks to quit. That gives you enough time to get ready.
T - Tell family, friends, and coworkers that you plan to quit. Quitting smoking is easier with the support of others.
A - Anticipate and plan for the challenges you’ll face while quitting. Plan for how to deal with the urge before it hits.
R - Remove cigarettes and other tobacco products from your home, car, and work.
T - Talk to your doctor about getting help to quit. They can suggest smoking cessation support groups or prescribe medicine to help with withdrawal.
Patients who come to Penn’s smoking treatment program are evaluated on everything from their lifestyle, medications, risks, chance of relapse and best ways to learn—and an individual treatment plan is developed based on that information.
Quitting smoking has great health benefits for women of all ages. Incentives to stop smoking include living longer, a reduced risk for heart attack, stroke and cancer, having more energy, a better sense of taste and smell, and breathing easier. Plus, once you quit, you will even save money.
The Comprehensive Smoking Treatment Program is a part of the Penn Lung Center, a multidisciplinary resource for consultation, second opinion, diagnosis and ongoing treatment of patients with lung disease.
Why Choose An Organized Program To Stop Smoking?
Smoking cessation and support groups teach problem-solving and other coping skills.
A quit smoking program can help you quit for good by:
- Creating an individualized treatment plan
- Helping you better understand why you smoke
- Teaching you how to handle withdrawal and stress
- Teaching you tips to help resist the urge to smoke
- Offering specialized care for smokers who have relapsed or suffer from smoking-related disease
For more information call 888-PENN-STOP (7366.7867) or 800-789-PENN.
* American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2007.
**Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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