What About When You Quit?

A Message from Dr. Stephen Kindred – Assistant Vice President, Corporate Medical

The American Lung Association supports November as National Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the United States. In fact, more people die from lung cancer than colon, breast and prostate cancer combined.

Tobacco smoking is by far the leading cause of lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 80% of lung cancer deaths are caused directly by smoking, and many others are caused by exposure to secondhand smoke. Smokers exposed to other known risk factors, such as asbestos and radon, are at a greater risk for developing lung cancer.

Kristin, a Bank Customer Service Representative at Corporate, used to be a “pack-a-day” smoker for seven years. “I tried quitting multiple times in the past with no luck, but then became worried about the future of my health,” says Kristin. “I quit ‘cold turkey’ for two weeks, but that was nothing, as I had previously quit up to a month before returning to the habit. So, I decided to give the Quit for Life® tobacco cessation program a try.”

The Quit for Life program is offered to all State Farm U.S. retirees in partnership with the American Cancer Society and Alere Wellbeing. The program helps smokers create an easy-to-follow quitting plan that motivates participants to get ready, take action, and live the rest of their life tobacco free. At no cost, participants receive expert support and assistance whenever needed, over the phone, from a Quit Coach® who specializes in helping people quit tobacco.

For Kristin, joining the Quit for Life program was easy. “I just dialed the number and started speaking with a coach. It was nice to have someone to talk to and who made me think about my triggers and how I could avoid them,” adds Kristin. “I had regular phone sessions with my coach until I felt comfortable without them. It was very helpful that I was able to call almost anytime I was having cravings and felt like I might give in. I just programmed the number in my phone!”

Based on 25 years of research and experience, the Quit for Life program teaches participants to become experts in living without tobacco using the “The 4 Essential Practices to Quit for Life.”

1. Quit at Your Own Pace. Quit on your terms, but get the help you need, when you need it.
2. Conquer Your Urges to Smoke. Gain the skills you need to control cravings, urges and situations involving tobacco.
3. Use Medications so They Really Work. Learn how to supercharge your quit attempt with the proper use of free nicotine substitutes or medications.
4. Don’t Just Quit – Become a Non-Smoker. Once you’ve stopped using tobacco, learn never again to have that “first” cigarette.

Smoke Out Lung Cancer

Like Kristin, healthier lungs can also be achieved by others with the right support. On November 15, the American Cancer Society marks the 37th Great American Smokeout®. This is a day of encouragement to help smokers make a plan to set a quit date, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day.

When you quit smoking, the risk of having lung cancer and other smoking-related illnesses can be decreased. Research indicates the risk of lung cancer is less in people who quit smoking than in people who keep smoking the same number of cigarettes every day. Inversely, the risk decreases as the number of years since quitting increases.

People who stop smoking while they are young get the maximum health benefits from quitting. Those who quit in their 30s may avoid most of the risk due to tobacco use, yet even smokers who quit after age 50 reduce their risk of dying early to lung cancer. It is never too late to quit smoking – and with the help of the Quit for Life program, you don’t have to do it alone!

Empowering you to Live Well, Be Well and stay tobacco free.

Additional Resources

WebMD’s Lung Cancer Health Center provides comprehensive information and resources about lung cancer.

Mayo Clinic offers advice on Secondhand Smoke: Avoid Dangers in the Air.

Let the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention bring you up-to-speed on Lung Cancer Statistics in the United States.