Lung    Cancer

   This page is designed to educate the reader on  Lung Cancer.

What is Lung Cancer??

Lung Cancer is .........

                           Any Questions ??

 As you can see, Lung Cancer is terrible disesease one can have.  With the proper education, you can help Tigers Against Cancer fight this deadly disease!

     WOW!  Did you  know........

* Between 1960 and 1990, deaths from lung cancer among women have increased by more that 400%--exceeding breast cancer deaths!

* About 10 million people in the United States have died from causes attributed to smoking (including heart disease, emphysema, and other respiratory diseases)!

* Men who smoke increase their risk of death from lung cancer by more than 22 times and from bronchitis and emphysema by nearly 10 times.!

* On average, smokers die nearly seven years earlier than nonsmokers!  

The Effects of Smoking......

Smoking has numerous, harmful effects on your health. According to the American Cancer Society, if you smoke, your risk of dying from lung cancer is twelve times greater than a non-smoker. Smoking is also the major cause of cancer of the mouth, larynx, throat, and esophagus; and has been linked to cancers of the kidney, bladder, pancreas, and is the leading cause of heart disease. Smokers are twice as likely to have a heart attack as a non-smoker.   Men and women who smoke are prone to develop lifelong respiratory conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These illnesses occur when the cilia,  tiny "cleaning" hairs in the lungs, are destroyed, allowing tar to build up.  By not smoking, you can greatly reduce your risk of developing lung cancer and other respiratory ailments.

Note:  Smoking also poses special dangers during pregnancy. Babies born to mothers who smoke tend to have lower birth weights than those of non-smoking mothers. When expecting mothers smoke, it increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death shortly after birth.

How to Quit Smoking......

Trying to quit smoking isn't easy, due to the addictive nature of nicotine, but it can be done. Once you make the decision to stop, set a particular day to quit.  Be sure to mark it on your calendar and tell your family and friends so they can offer their support. Next, make a list of reasons why you want to quit.  This list will motivate as you work on getting used to life without cigarettes. When the day arrives, throw away all your cigarettes, lighters, and ashtrays and take things one day at a time. Being   mentally and physically prepared is very important.  You have to be postive whi\en trying to overcome smoking.. The first ten days you may feel tired, cranky, and develop headaches or a cough.  Your body is going through nicotine withdrawal. These symptoms usually only last about two weeks.   Drinking plenty of water and exercising hepls to alleviate your symptoms and it also  flushes the nicotine out of your system. Get plenty of rest and avoid drinks with caffeine and alcohol. Try to keep yourself  busy, and at the end of the day, reward yourself. Depending on your particular circumstances, your doctor may suggest nicotine chewing gum or a nicotine patch to help you stop smoking.

This page was last updated on 12-17-98