Ever since
I was a little girl, I have disliked smoking. During student days, I used to
feel miserable looking at fellow students smoking. During post-grad, I was part
of a project on anti-smoking. And today, I write here in the hope that someone
may read this and give up smoking for good. The reason: I recently lost someone
very dear to me, to throat cancer.
My father’s
close friend was a great guy! He was family to us and I liked him immensely. He
was always very cautious about eating healthy. He walked daily for exercise.
Was very social and was loved by everyone. Was extremely sensible. Had a vast
experience and gave sound advice. The only thing he did not do right was
smoking.
He had begun smoking early in life and was a chain smoker till he was
diagnosed with advanced throat cancer. Showing a will of steel, he gave up
smoking completely, for the first time. He fought hard, underwent radiation,
made all the changes required and was declared cancer free. But a few months
ago, his cancer came back. And this time the severity was too much for his
frail body. Cancer had reached his brain. He passed away.
Smoking
does you no good. It is going to stab you in your chest today or tomorrow.
I can
understand that my father’s generation and men before that, smoked. There were
no warnings. Not enough knowledge that tobacco could kill. The advertisements of
cigarette companies were enticing. But today, we know the dangers of tobacco
and smoking. The product packets themselves carry the warnings. We are seeing
people die due to smoking. And still people continue to smoke.
Please
allow me to say a few things about smoking.
- If you have a child in your house, the child smokes when you smoke. Passive smoke also causes cancer.
- If you smoke, your chances of impotency go up. Ouch! No man would want to invite that in his life.
- If you decide to have children and are smoking, you are passing on unhealthy genes to your unborn child. Let us call that killing your unborn child.
- With pollution levels going up in most parts of the world, we all are at risk of lung cancer. Why drive more nails in our coffin by smoking? The smoke needs to be reduced not increased.
- With every puff of tobacco, you are killing some of your tiny little body cells. That is murder. Those cells work ceaselessly to keep you up & about, and you are murdering them.
- Smoking kills you SLOWLY. Death will come one day to each one of us. There is no point in sketching our death to be slow and extremely painful. Cancer IS slow and painful.
- Your family needs you. Your loved ones need you. Live a healthy long life for them.
- Even if you are alone or don’t care about your family, a slow and painful cancer death is not what you would want in your life.
Smoking
does you no good. It is going to stab you in your chest today or tomorrow.
Smoking
causes 16 types of cancer. They are, Cancer of the:
Lungs
Mouth
Nasal cavities
Pharynx
Larynx
Stomach
Kidney
Bowel
Liver
Pancreas
Ureter
Oesophagus
Cervix
Bladder
Ovaries
Myeloid
Leukaemia.
According
to various studies:
- Lung cancer is THE MOST PREVENTABLE FORM of cancer.
- Smoking causes 80% - 90% of the lung cancer.
- Smoking causes 84% of deaths from lung cancer, and 83% of deaths from chronic obstructive lung disease, including bronchitis.
- Smoking is THE MOST PREVENTABLE CAUSE of cancer.
- All you have to do is STOP SMOKING! And your chances of cancer go down.
There are
so many types of cancers, whose causes are not known. There is very little
control that we have over these cancers.
But Smoking
is a known and preventable CAUSE of cancer.
Throw away
that cigarette packet in the dustbin and go for a run.
Laugh with your friends.
Sit in Meditation.
Go watch a movie.
Get out of the house and go sightseeing.
Breathe in some air. But please do not breathe in smoke.
I fold my
hands and plead with you, give up smoking today.
Smoking
does you no good. It is going to stab you in your chest today or tomorrow.
