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NEWS | Nov. 8, 2007

November recognized as Lung Cancer Awareness Month

By Maj. Colleen Kersgard 79 Medical Operations Squadron Hematology and Oncology Clinic chief

The third Thursday of November has been designated by the American Cancer Society as a day to cut down or stop smoking. And the theory is: if you can quit for a day, you can quit for a lifetime. If you smoke cigarettes or use tobacco in any form, consider participating in the event by giving up tobacco for one day. Use this day as the starting point to kick the habit in the upcoming year. Nicotine is an addiction. Quitting tobacco can be very difficult, especially when it is part of an upbringing, part of a culture, part of daily habits, or part of stress relief. There are tools available to help. It takes most people many attempts to quit, but it is possible to succeed. There are more than 45 million adults in the United States who used to smoke. 

There are many things in life beyond a person's control. 

My experience shows that most people want to maintain as much control over their lives as possible, especially when it comes to their health. There are a few things people have control over and can do to improve their health. 

The few things are: maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and avoiding tobacco use. 

Why should a person quit? 

Tobacco use in any form such as cigarettes, chew, pipes and cigars is harmful to a persons health. 

Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of death in the United States and is responsible for more than 440,000 deaths per year. Most people know tobacco causes lung cancer, but it's also a significant risk factor for cancer of the esophagus, kidney, stomach, pancreas, larynx, mouth, nose, sinuses, bladder and blood. Smoking doesn't just cause cancer. It also causes heart disease, stroke, bronchitis, and emphysema.
Many people ask what it will take to quit. 

It will take a plan, support and lots of hard work. My advice is to spend about a week identifying when, where and why you use tobacco. Write it down, then figure out what to do with free time after quitting, such as go for a walk, chew gum, call a friend or write in a journal. Have a plan in place so that when the craving hits, there will be something to do until it passes. You may have to change daily activities, routines or even your acquaintances in order to succeed. There are programs available at the base that can help achieve these goals. The Health and Wellness Center has a smoking cessation program. There are nicotine replacement therapies such as gums and patches. There are also prescription medications to help you succeed. The most important thing is to start trying and keep trying.