The last two days I have followed Dr. Pittman, UMC's Head and Neck attending surgeon. In the OR in order to remove mouth cancers we removed half of patient's jaws. We inserted tracheostomys, and biopsied tumors. At the Cancer Institute in clinic I saw a range of patients, from age 25 to 85. I saw patients breathing out of holes in their necks, speaking out of holes in their necks, and disfigured by tumor removal.
The common link between all of these patients? Smoking.
I think the Surgeon General's warning on packs of cigarettes should include pictures of these consequences. Instead of classy red designs with manly logos or sleek blues that are suppose to make women feel sexy for carrying them around, how about packages with a picture of someone missing half their face?
And then, when you buy your 100th pack, you win a free trip to the Cancer Institute to see and meet yourself in a few more years. I think it'd work better than Nicorette.
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