Hello, my name is Tom. My wife, Valerie and I were married in 1980. I have 4 children, Anthony, James, Bonnie and Nola. I was 13 years old when I started smoking. I had no idea what could and would happen to me because of it. In 1976 my father, who also smoked, was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. He received radiation treatments and the cancer was gone. My father continued to smoke and in November 1983 the cancer was back, only this time it was too late. The cancer had spread throughout his vital organs. The doctors gave my father 3 months to live and on February 14, 1984 (Valentine's Day), he died. What an empty feeling! I had lost a father and a friend.
Although my father had died from cancer as a result of smoking, I couldn't quit. I tried several times and failed. My wife Valerie also smoked. It never occured to either of us that we could get cancer from tobacco, or worse, our children.
I was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in February 1995. In April 1995, I had a laryngectomy. Six weeks later and 27 treatments of radiation, that made my throat feel like it was on fire, I had lost my voice box and part of my thyroid. When surgery and radiation were done I had to learn to how to talk again. No one told us what we had to do next. They said nothing to help us. Valerie, my wife, started checking around and talking to people and we found out through my sister-inlaw that I could go to the University in our town and get help. At this point, all I could do to communicate with people was write it down on a notepad. I could not make a sound to six months. How frustrating!
Valerie had quit smoking the day I was diagnosed with cancer, but I didn't quit until I had the surgery. Nicotene is the most addictive drug there is. It took me 4 years just to get over wanting a cigarette.
Unlike other drugs it attacks part of the brain that makes it almost impossible to quit. This is why it is so hard to say no once you start using tobacco products. When I started looking into this drug (nicotine) and its effects, I was amazed. I could not believe what we had been doing to ourselves, our children and those around us when we were smoking. When you smoke those around you are also smoking and they don't even know it. This is called second hand smoke and it kills 53,000 people a year. Who knows how many get cancer from it!
There are many things Laryngectomees can't do. We can't go swimming as other people do or be involved in water sports, as a matter of fact we shouldn't participate in any sports at all because it would be to dangerous.
Laryngectomees are total neck breathers and can't taste much if at all. There is not a day that goes by that I don't wish I could smell or taste. We are more likely to get some kind of respiratory infection. It can be very dangerous if we don't watch where we go. Dirt and dust carry a lot of infections. We have to learn how to speak again and sometimes that can take over a year. There are three ways we use to speak, Esophageal (Burp talking), Electrolarynx (a little device that makes you sound like a robot), and a Tracheosophageal Puncture, which is a voice prosthesis installed between the trachea and the esophagus. There is however a bonus to all of this......I can breath and drink water at the same time, in other words, I can bobb for apples forever! This is not a fun thing to have happen, but you must keep on keeping on. We have to help those to cope with this new life. There is life after a laryngectomy.
Why do we as adults not look at what is causing the major problem for our families and friends? When we smoke, so do those around us. There is no such thing as a non-smoking section in a restaurant that permits smoking. The 4,000 chemicals and 43 that cause cancer go everywhere in that establishment, virtually effecting everyone there. When I walk into a hospital or a place of business and there are people smoking outside in front of the doors, it takes my breath away, literally. Those of us who know what tobacco products can do must educate and familiarize people about the Truth's About Tobacco (TAT).
My family and I have met some wonderful people in my trek to getting back on course. The people at Western Michigan University helped me to speak again and the American Cancer Society (ACS), in Kalamazoo, has also been a big help and we love them very much. They have laughed with us, cried with us and most of all prayed with us. I am a volunteer with ACS and have had the pleasure in being an Ambassador and an advocate and continue to be very active with them. The people at my local ACS office as well as those in corporate are wonderful and caring.
I do presentations on the Truth's About Tobacco (TAT) for ANYONE, ANYWHERE.
I am telling the truth now about tobacco. I have taken a vow not to go into a place that is not smoke free when possible. Above all, I stay out of bars. I challenge those who do not smoke to stay out of those places that are not smoke free. If you smoke and drink your chances of getting cancer are 100 times greater than those who do not. Remember, if you are in a smoking establishment....you are smoking!
If you smoke, quit, if you don't, don't start
This CANCER has changed my life forever. It is the best thing that has ever happened to me. It is what I needed to get my life back on track.
I praise my Lord Jesus Christ for saving me and changing my life.
Isaiah 40:31 says, But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
