Throat Cancer Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos

Throat Cancer About

Source(google.com.pk)

In high school, Terrie was a pretty cheerleader who competed on the cheer circuit. Her father smoked, and with more and more of her friends smoking, Terrie soon found herself lighting up in social settings. "It was the cool thing to do," she says.

She eventually was smoking up to two packs a day and started feeling the effects of tobacco at age 25—a sore throat that never seemed to go away. In 2001, at the age of 40, Terrie was diagnosed with oral cancer. As she recalls, "I had a sore in my mouth and had to go through all these grueling radiation treatments. It was awful."

Terrie continued to smoke throughout her radiation treatments. "I didn't think I had to quit. The radiation was getting rid of the cancer, so I could still smoke," she says.

Later that same year, Terrie was diagnosed with throat cancer. It was then that she quit for good. The doctors informed her that they would need to remove her larynx. Today, at 52, Terrie speaks with the help of an artificial voice box that was inserted in her throat. "This is the only voice my grandson knows," she says. "I miss being able to sing lullabies to him. When children ask me why I talk like this, I tell them it’s because I used to smoke cigarettes. Don’t ever smoke."

Terrie has one grandchild and a second one on the way. With Terrie’s encouragement, her daughter, a smoker, quit smoking during her second pregnancy. Yet, one concern remains, "My fear now is that I won’t be around to see my grandchildren graduate or get married."

Terrie works tirelessly to educate young people about the dangers and consequences of tobacco use. She's as active as she can be, lending her time and support to several health and advocacy organizations. "I'm busier now than before I got cancer," Terrie says. Unfortunately, cancer has returned numerous times since she was first diagnosed, and she continues to battle it today.

Through the Tips From Former Smokers campaign, Terrie wants to encourage teens to never start smoking. "If you don't start, you never have to worry about stopping," she says. She believes that if she could prevent just one person from smoking, then she has done something great.

Throat Cancer 

Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos    

Throat Cancer 

Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos   

Throat Cancer 

Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos   

Throat Cancer 

Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos   

Throat Cancer 

Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos   

Throat Cancer 

Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos   

Throat Cancer 

Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos   

Throat Cancer 

Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos   

Throat Cancer 

Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos   

Throat Cancer 

Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos   

Throat Cancer 

Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos