Dear D. Bone,
I know this is not
exactly a question about cancer, but I thought you might help. My sister died
of lung cancer after smoking for 40 years. My nephew is now a grown man with
children. He smokes like a chimney! He watched his mother die but won’t quit.
Is there anything that can be done to convince him that he needs to stop
smoking now?
Frustrated
Dear Frustrated,
It is hard to believe that someone who has watched a loved
one die of a smoking related cancer still smokes themselves. Remember, smoking
is an addiction, and a lesson learned from Alcoholics Anonymous is that you
cannot change a person who is addicted. They must want to change themselves.
All you can do is love and support them. His own family can make rules that he
cannot smoke inside the house because of the risk of exposure to second-hand
smoke, but more aggressive intervention will probably not work. Until he is
ready to quit smoking, any nagging, warning, prodding, or begging is in vain. I
suggest that you simply make him aware that you are available if that time
should arrive. Then, there are medications, support groups, hypnotism, laser,
acupuncture, etc. to make it easier.
By the way, for those of you inclined to quit smoking, there
is an urban legend that for each year you quit smoking, your risk of lung
cancer goes down. Unfortunately, former smokers make up a considerable portion
of lung cancer patients. The risk remains high for a very long time. Please,
please use that as motivation to quit NOW.
Dr. Bone
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