Smoking Cessation

By Dr. Suboohi Jafar

An average cigarette contains approximately 4000 toxins,

And you inhale them, when you puff in,

When you puff out, you just exhale the smoke,

Leaving all the toxins within!

Smoking is not just a habit, but an addiction,

It is a fact, and not a fiction,

Even our religion says to avoid any kind of addiction,

That may lead you to forget about your family and nation!

As an oncologist, I see a lot of cases,

Who present with the disease and repentance,

When asked about how long they have been smoking,

They just admit their mistake and a history of many years!

Then I counsel them about the poor prognosis and stage,

And also tell them that they have high chances of recurrence,

Then they look sad and aggrieved,

Unable to accept the fact and the disease!

Then I counsel them about various ways to quit smoke,

So that they don't hurt themselves anymore,

Many a times, I need to talk to family members,

So that they keep an eye on patient, and not further injure!

All I can say, that no one should smoke,

As it injures your oral cavity and lungs to their core,

The disease in such patients is aggressive and with high chances of recurrence,

Owing to the fact of "field cancerization" and toxins' persistence!

Once you start smoking, lungs reduce their elasticity,

Hurting its texture, musculature and its entity,

The lungs reduce their function and get fibrosed,

And slowly, over the years, they get shattered!

Then you start coughing and choking due to cigarette,

And you put one cigarette after the other like nail in your own coffin,

Cigarette box clearly depicts the picture of a cancer patient,

But you ignore the fact as you get blinded with love of cigarette!

I know it's not easy to quit,

Your craving calls you to put cigarette in your mouth, wanting to be lit,

I will help you out with nicotine patch and other measures,

Proper counseling and will power, will help you to treasure!

By Dr. Suboohi Jafar