Munson Medical Center will offer turkey sandwiches Thursday, Nov. 21, for those who want to quit smoking cold turkey and celebrate the Great American Smokeout® day.
The event, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the hospital’s Café, will include sandwiches and information on low-dose CT screening, smoking/vaping cessation, upcoming Freedom from Smoking classes, and more. The public is invited.
“Quitting smoking is a process,” said Patti Moore, B.S.N., R.N., a tobacco treatment specialist at the Cowell Family Cancer Center. “The American Lung Association recognizes that it can take 10 to 12 good attempts to successfully quit. So, don’t quit quitting.”
The American Cancer Society reports about 34 million Americans still smoke cigarettes and tobacco use remains the largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world.
While cigarette use is on the decline, e-cigarette, cigar, pipe, and hookah smoking are increasing. Getting help through counseling or medications can double or triple the chances of quitting successfully.
The American Cancer Society’s eight-session Freedom from Smoking class is designed to help smokers break the chains of nicotine. The next class will start on Jan. 6, 2020.
Research shows smoking clearly increases the chance for lung cancer, however, non-smokers also can be diagnosed with the disease. More information on Freedom from Smoking Day and resources available at the American Cancer Society can be found at cancer.org/smokeout, or call 800-227-2345.
More information on cancer services available at Munson Healthcare can be found at munsonhealthcare.org/freedom-from-smoking.