I was a 2 pack a day smoker and quit cold turkey in 1976 - before they had nicotine patches, gum and the other stuff. I worked for Siemens Medical Labs which built Medical Linear Accelerators and watched many lung cancer patients rolled in to treatment (almost ALL, heavy smokers - 25 years). It wasn't pretty, it convinced me that I never wanted to end up like that. I watched a couple of them die on the table in the middle of radiation treatment. Ironically 35 years later I was treated on a Siemens LINAC myself. I never even considered other forms of cancer from smoking.

As a former addict and alcoholic I do know this much about addiction. You have to WANT to quit and then be WILLING to go to ANY lengths to do it. If you tell yourself you're going to quit tomorrow then you have already lost because "half measures avail us nothing".

The addictive behavior itself is usually only a symptom of the real problem. This is why in AA putting "the plug in the jug" is only the first step. To quit an addiction requires the help of a higher power, community (going to support group meetings), accountability (having a sponsor to answer to) and working the steps to uncover the root causes.

I implore you out there who are still drinking and smoking that the light at the end of the tunnel IS in fact an oncoming train. Get OUT of the problem and INTO the solution and guess what - the PROBLEM GOES AWAY!

Consider the first 3 steps:

1. We admitted (the honesty part of it) we were powerless over alcohol (drugs, tobacco, whatever) that our lives had become unmanageable. (having a recurrence of oral cancer definitely qualifies here or even tempting recurrence) How much more unmanageable can it be having your jawbone or larynx removed or fed through a tube in your stomach. Death is ultimate in being unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. (this will address the insanity portion of it)

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him (not the Pope's or ministers definition of God, but rather a power greater than yourself of your own definition). (this is a daily program)

I am sure that your hospital or clinic has a smoking cessation program - find it - use it, or I will have have to thank you for improving my survival odds (which I would really rather not do).

In AA we call the disease "cunning, baffling and powerful". Smoking is worse in many ways but it can be conquered if you are "honest, open minded and willing". It's not an easy program but one that has immediate rewards...