November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and November 19, 2015, is the Great American Smokeout this year. The Great American Smokeout has its roots going back to 1970 according to the American Cancer Society. It started at an event in Randolph, Massachusetts, where people were asked to give up smoking for a day and donate the money to a scholarship fund. Lynn Smith, editor of the Monticello Times in Minnesota announced observing the first “Don’t Smoke Day” in 1974. The idea then started spreading from state to state went nationwide under the sponsorship of the American Cancer Society in 1977.
The Great American Smokeout in November really fits nicely with Lung Cancer Awareness since quitting smoking is one of the best preventative actions a person can take to help prevent lung cancer as well as a variety of other smoking-related diseases.
In the Centers for Disease Control’s article Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking, they state “Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the US.” Smoking is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States. In addition, the article states “smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer” and “smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body: blood, cervix, colon, rectum, esophagus, kidney, ureter, larynx, liver, oropharynx, pancreas, stomach, trachea, bronchus, and lung.”
Dr. Bennett Ojserkis, Medical Director and Pulmonologist for Shore Cancer Center’s Advanced Pulmonary Diagnostics Program, stated “Tobacco smoke is the single most important risk factor for the development of lung cancer and smoking cessation is a sure-fire way to reduce your risk for this disease. It is never too late to quit.”
In Atlantic County approximately 20% of our population smokes; that is over 55,000 individuals. The Great American Smokeout gives current smokers the opportunity to unite and take a break from tobacco with the support of each other and the community. Smokers get to see if they are ready to quit. The nation still has approximately 45 million smokers and statistics show 70% want to quit and many have tried to quit unsuccessfully on their own. According to the American Cancer Society, “research shows that smokers who have support are more likely to quit for good.” A program that can be tailored to each individual and that provides counseling, behavior modification, and/or nicotine replacements and medications can help smokers quit the habit.
Aside from the fact that smoking is a physically addicting habit, many people who smoke also rely on tobacco to manage stress, relax, and reduce feelings of loneliness, boredom or social anxiety. With counseling, individuals learn coping strategies to address these issues.
Quitting smoking is a major lifestyle change that affects all of the body’s systems, notifying your health care provider is another essential step, especially if you take prescription medications regularly, which may need to be modified during the quit process. Using a medication during the quit process improves management of cravings and triggers. Some medications can be purchased over the counter and others require a prescription with approval from your healthcare provider.
This article was written by our coalition member, Stephanie Bordonaro, Program Coordinator for Shore Medical Center’s Tobacco Treatment Program.
Shore Medical Center is able to supply support for those who want to quit through their Tobacco Prevention and Treatment Program. Tobacco cessation programs like Shore’s have a high success rate because they use a combination of counseling, behavior modification and/or nicotine replacements and medications, tailoring the program to each individual.
After an individual commits to a four-session plan, which costs $100, (equivalent to what a pack-a-day smoker spends on cigarettes in two weeks), a participant attends the first session for a full assessment. During their second visit, they declare a ‘quit date’; the day when they plan to officially never smoke again. By the third session, they have begun the quitting process. The fourth session focuses on relapse prevention. Additional sessions at $35.00 per session can be arranged if the individual feels they are necessary. At each session, they breathe into a Smokerlyzer® machine, which measures the levels of toxic carbon monoxide inhaled from tobacco smoke, giving them visible proof of the damage being done to their body and another benchmark in their quit plan.
To learn more about Shore Medical Center’s Tobacco Prevention and Treatment Program or request a free information/application packet please call 609-653-3440. Individual counseling sessions with a Tobacco Treatment Specialist are available fee-for-service and free to Shore Medical Center employees. Sessions may be covered by insurance and financial assistance is available for those who qualify.