Most adults who smoke or vape want to quit, and it is not unusual for people to make multiple attempts before achieving lasting success. Mary B., 60, of Spencerport, quit smoking in early 2020 with support of free services from New York State Smokers’ Quitline. Now she serves as an inspiration for those seeking to become smoke-free.
Mary first tried cigarettes at age 14 and smoked for more than 30 years throughout her life. She was smoke-free throughout her twenties for childbirth but later returned to cigarettes. As time passed, Mary felt her lung capacity decrease and needed inhalers to help with physical activity. She also battled with bouts of bronchitis and pneumonia. After undergoing a CAT scan ordered by her primary care physician and pulmonologist, Mary learned she had lung nodules and an enlarged pulmonary artery
“My doctors also diagnosed the onset of mild emphysema but said I’d avoid lasting damage if I quit smoking,” Mary said. “I had tried quitting before but finally stuck with it in early 2020. I’m so glad I quit because I contracted COVID-19 later that year. Vaccines were not yet available, and maybe I wouldn’t have made it if I had still been smoking.”
Mary is especially grateful for the specialists at the NY Quitline, who encouraged her to keep trying to quit despite past failed attempts. Free shipments of nicotine gum from the NY Quitline via mail also greatly helped Mary, especially due to her limited financial resources and her need for a boost of nicotine replacement therapy medication to help overcome cigarette cravings.
In recent years through smoke-free living, Mary can again enjoy activities from her younger years, such as biking and swimming. Her pulmonologist, Dr. Daniel Croft with the University of Rochester Medical Center, considers Mary’s health turnaround “an A+.”
“I’m so proud of Mary and am glad she is free from tobacco,” said Croft, who also serves as a member of the NY Quitline’s Healthcare Professional Task Force. “Quitting smoking can take a village, so I encourage everyone to always check with their healthcare professionals and the NY Quitline to learn about all the options available for successful quitting.”
For those who live in the Finger Lakes Region, the Center for a Tobacco-Free Finger Lakes can recommend local and online cessation group classes. Mary likewise recommends support groups, exercising and staying away from tempting situations to make quitattempts last.
“It’s so wonderful to be smoke-free,” Mary said. “Even though I smoked for so many years, I’m now disgusted by the smell of cigarettes. Being smoke-free feels like a burden is lifted from my shoulders. Others should know to keep trying and don’t give up. If you give up, you’ll never succeed.”
The NY Quitline encourages all those living in New York State to make 2024 smoke-free by calling 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487), texting QUITNOW to 333888 or visiting http://nysmokefree.com.
Participants can connect with a specialist through an online chat, request a call-back, order free nicotine replacement therapy medications and register for the six-week http://Learn2QuitNY text messaging program. If a slip-up happens along the journey, stay positive and try, try again.
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