Rita,

In strict response to your question, I was a 2 to 2&1/2 pack smoker at the time I was diagnosed in 4/06 with Base of Tongue Squamous Cell. I had been a continuous smoker for almost 40 years and never made a serious effort to quit. Most likely I would still be smoking today if not for the cancer. I left from the meeting with my ENT at Emory Univ. Hospital here in Atlanta after she gave me the verdict of the tests and have never even held any form of tobacco in my hand again. My wife and I got back to the car at the hospital where I picked up an open partial pack on the console, handed to my wife and asked that she do something with them and that was the end.

Now after completing Tx 7/06 I just recently got my latest clean scan and am good to go until next May! I have been convinced all along that it was only natural than my cancer was caused by the years of smoking. My ENT tried to make me feel better when she read the verdict by telling me that the stats show that 8% of all BOT patients have never touched tobacco. I found no comfort in that at all as I clearly fell into the other 92%. Quitting smoking was a MAJOR lifestyle change to say the least. I can't say that I have made any other changes to speak of. I never was much of an alcohol drinker and don't even have one anymore with my beloved Mexican food as my taste buds still are not kind to any form of alcohol. Beer still tastes like it is full of sugar as does wine.

Bill D.