I think I'll quit, too... 2016 update

[The emperor has no clothes]

Please - all you smokers - if not for yourself - think about your family. I lost my dad at age 57 due to lung cancer from cigerettes in '94 -  my next to last year in the service.  Fortunately, by that time I had LOTS of leave time built up, and we made lots of trips from DC back to Kansas that year. The last time I saw him alive was over christmas '93.  The only good thing about his funeral is that most of my college buddies made it out for the funeral with us.

Good luck to those trying to quit - It's probably the hardest thing to quit ever...

Having been a smoker off and on for 25 years, I know how hard it was to quit. I also know that the desire has to come from within. No amount of rational cajoling will get someone to quit. My Dad was also a smoker his entire life. He never got cancer. But I'm sure they contributed to his death. He died from congestive heart failure. Something that bothered me for a long time . I went home to Alaska to visit, his health was deteriorating and he wasn't doing so good. He wasn't taking good care of himself at all. I told him that Brenda and I were going to go to the store and get him some healthy food versus the stuff he had been eating. He asked me to get him a carton of Kool's. I did. He died 2 months later. Cigarettes are a terrible thing, but every smoker knows that.

[Karen]

I first started trying to quit in 1980, after 3 packs a day since 1956. Took me 10 years, and the thing that made the difference in 1990 was that I had bought a mountain bike, and wanted to be riding  & touring & camping in the mountains. I did all that! 8 years ago, I was diagnosed with lung cancer, had a lumpectomy (was told I would have a whole node removed), no chemo & no radiation. Still clear, so far. I couldn't ask "Why me?" Given some of the stunts I pulled, the real question is "Why am I still here?".  It's just a day at a time, and I'm past the point where I would ever want  one anymore. It is worth the effort, you CAN do it! 

[mark81]

one day without a smoke.... again

[Skinhead]

Never quit quitting.  It is one of the most beneficial things you will ever do,

[Jess Tolbirt]

do like me,, i quit a thousand times, never worked,, then one day i decided to just not smoke anymore,,been almost 20 years now since i had a cigarette,,but i still havent quit,,i just havent had one..

[cookiedough]

sort of like my dad some 30 years ago just decided to quit finally after 20+ years of smoking was in his mid to late 40s when he quit, but damage was done already when he got into his 60s.  The younger generations age 40ish and younger are not nearly as into smoking as those age 50 and above am sure on that.  I remember growing up in the 70s and 80s tons of people were smoking vs. now not very many who do and those who do are attempting to quit finally, well most of them anyways.  smoking in bars is almost non-existent and those who allow smoking still do not get as much business because of it.  Was nothing in the 70s going with my dad into the local 5 bars in our one horse town to not being able to see across the bar because of all the smoking going on. 

as said,  best thing to do for your health to stop smoking, the earlier, the better. Best of luck to all who are trying.     

[3fan4life]

I've never been a smoker so I can't understand the attractiion to it.

I can relate as a healthcare worker who has taken care of many people dying from it's effects and I can relate as someone who has lost family members way too soon because of it.

My Dad died from a ruptured aorta in 1988 at age 63.

He never got to see my son grow up.

The rupture in his aorta was caused by the cigaretts hardening his arteries.

I lost my oldest brother last year.  He was only 67.  He died of severe lung disease that was mostly attributed to Agent Orange exposure in Viet Nam.

But, I'm sure that the 40+ years that he spent as a smoker before quitting after his first heart attack didn't help.

He won't be around to see his grandchildren grow up.

If you don't want to quit smoking for yourself then,

Please quit smoking for those that you love and who love you.

It's never easy to lose a loved one, it's even harder when you know they could've done something that would've kept them around longer.