More than 87% of lung cancer cases can be traced back to smoking, yet young people continue to pick up cigarettes and start puffing.  The problem is that the cancer doesn’t show up for years and years- decades even!  It‘s difficult to think that far down the road.  There’s no question that people of all ages struggle with the idea of turning down something pleasurable now because of a problem it could cause 50 years down the road. But with your life on the line, that’s exactly what you should be thinking about.

The fact is, you just can’t take chances with your lungs.  When your lungs are working at full power, your whole body is put under extra stress and can’t function properly at.  Every cell in your body, from your brain to your bone marrow, depends on your lungs to deliver oxygen and take away carbon monoxide.  Without that simple but crucial process, your cells can’t operate. A cancer in your lungs grows steadily, cutting off the oxygen supply to the rest of your body.   A tumor in the lungs is hard to detect in its early stages and the long-term survival rate for lung cancer is low.  Lung cancer is not only a painful disease to suffer through, but it is also very hard on loved ones as well.        

As a teenager, if you start smoking, you are causing permanent genetic changes in your lungs.   You are actually altering the make-up of your lungs forever.  From then on you will always have an increased chance of developing lung cancer later in life- EVEN IF YOU QUIT!  Quitting smoking is a great thing to do for your lungs and your body, but never starting to smoke in the first place is the BEST decision that you can make.

Not only is it important that you don’t smoke yourself, but this is a great opportunity to be a role model to those around you- even your parents!  When you refuse to take up smoking, other people will notice.  Maybe you can help convince one of your parents to quit smoking or your refusal will give a younger sibling the confidence to say no when faced with the decision to smoke.  Your behavior will have an impact on those around you- why not make sure it’s a positive impact!