Last week we learned that my brother-in-law has non-curable lung cancer. He’s 48 yrs old, has smoked since he was a teenager, dropped out of high school and rebelled for a while, got his GED, went to electrician school and has been a productive, working member of society since. He’s been married for 5 years, owns a home and has 2 cars that are paid for.
He’s now regretting his decisions to put off quitting a habit long ago that he knew was dangerous, but never thought it would happen to him. But it did happen to him and he probably will not be here in a year. He can’t stop apologizing to his wife for letting her down by getting cancer. He calls or texts me and other family members daily to tell us how much he loves us. It breaks my heart to know what he’s going to be facing over the coming months and what this terrible, but preventable disease is going to do to him and the rest of us as we watch him go through this.
He’s facing 4 – 5 months of chemotherapy and all of the terrible side effects of nausea, hair loss, weight loss and fatigue. He has no real chance of beating it all the way, but the hope is he will delay the inevitable.
There was something in tonight’s class on poverty that mentioned that smoking has dropped in the US and the cigarette manufacturers are now selling more overseas. Those other countries are seeing an increase in diseases because of it.
How can the people running the cigarette companies sleep at night? They have destroyed lives, wrecked havoc on the medical and insurance industries and caused so much pain and suffering.
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Its sad to read this story,its something that tells the reality of fact and effects of what to be a victim of cigarette smoking,it is also known to have negative healthy outcome,therefore every individual should take his or her own responsibility towards cigarette smoking to avoid it in any means,i know its difficult to eradicate smoking from the hand of people,my suggestion is based on economic point of view where by cigarette prices should be settled high compare to the regular prices in order to reduce its consumption,also higher taxes should be imposed on cigarette products, by doing this will some how reduce demand for consuming cigarettes
ReplyDeleteThat story was a huge eye opener to me, and I want to really thank you for posting it. All of my friends smoke, and this is something that I am going to have every one of them read. I tried to tell my friends that in their future, when they have a spouse and kids, they may regret their desicion to smoke. But thats something that is far away and difficult to believe. The fact that this actually happens makes it more real. Smoking is something that I think is being looked at more as a bad thing than it was in the past, and I hope that more people begin to see it's negative affects.
ReplyDeleteThe addiction to cigarettes has been compared to the addiction to heroin. The manufacturers are well aware of what they are doing. They should have to help bear the burdon on the cost to society by increased taxes or fees on their products. People who smoke should also have to pay more taxes that will help offset the medical costs many will likely face.
ReplyDeleteFor my brother-in-law, this was a case of ignorantly thinking "it won't happen to me". He watched his own father die of lung cancer 8 years ago. I can't help but wonder if that had jolted him into stopping back then, would he have cancer today. His mother still smokes and has not mentioned stopping since this diagnosis...even after watching her husband die from the same disease 8 years ago and knowing her son will die from smoking cigarettes.
It is so hard for me to not say "what are you doing?" when I see people smoking now, especially when I see teens and 20's smoking. It is such a sad, but preventable disease.
First of all I’m sorry to hear about your brother in law. But here is what I don’t get it. Why people are continue smoking when they see smokers are suffering from all kinds of respiratory problems in later life? Some high school students start smoking when they have peer pressure however, once they know it is not cool thing to do why can’t they try to stop smoking? Nowadays I see a lot of public places such as hospitals and some office building become “smoke free zone” this is what we need to do, even in colleges and high schools. Maybe the number of people who smokes freely will decrease. According to the researchers evidence the chance of having respiratory problems will decrease if the person will quite soon enough. It is really sad to see someone just start family and because of bad habit losing everything
ReplyDeleteI am one of those people who had to try smoking during my late teens. It felt cool. When I got a job and moved away from home I continued to smoke coz everyone around me was doing so. Luckily in the first 2 years that I smoked (on and off) I never got addicted. Smoking may have been cool but I constantly had sore throat or cold. Sometimes I would get really sick that I would be bed ridden for a couple days. I would then hate the smell of cigarettes for months then go back to it.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has been good influence on me. I havent smoked in many years now. Not that I was addicted or any thing like that, but I did enjoy smoking occasionally.
In any case I teach my son smoking is bad and I wouldn't want him to pick up the habit especially not from me.
It was sad to read about your brother - inlaw. I just hope he will be comfortable in his last days.I wish people will learn from him especially his mother.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I never understand is why do people continue smoking when they very well know the dangers. What really beats me is when I see nurses and doctors doing it, I will never understand.
To the company owners that manufacture cigarettes, how do they feel pocketing money that is the course of so many deaths, just like you asked,how do they sleep at night? how would they feel if their children or family members died from smoking?
It was so sad to read that they have taken the selling overseas where these countries are seeing an increase in diseases from it.
All we can do is continue telling smoking the dangers of smoking, some might listen and quit, unfortunately others will not.
Thats horrible, my mother is a heavy smoker. smokes three packs a day, and drinks beer one after the other. shes not a drunk, but she downs it like its water and shes in the middle of a desert. the reason is stoped smokign was because of her, and my boyfriend did not want me to get lung cancer.
ReplyDeleteI feel sad to hear about what has happened to your brother-inlaw.I wish he could cured so he will have advise for others.
ReplyDeleteOne thing which bothers me most is the amount of freedom smokers have to smoke in public. It is believed that, people who are exposed to smokers,are actually more affected than the person who is smoking. This issue actually puts some feer in me. I also agree that, if tax on cigarett is increased, it may help to reduce smooking .