Ex Smoker: "Look At What Has Happened To Me And Tell Me Smoking Is Worth It"

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 27 Nov 2007 - 3:00 PDT

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Isaac keery, 62, who had a lung removed after being told he had just a year left to live is urging smokers to think twice about lighting up.

Mr Keery, was diagnosed with cancer last April and told he could expect to live just 12 months if he didn't have his left lung taken out.

Recalling the moments when he was given the heart wrenching news an emotional Isaac said: "It didn't dawn on me how serious things were until a Macmillan Nurse spoke to me at the hospital after my x-ray and scan results were in. I kept thinking, "am I really going to die?"

Six months on after his diagnosis Isaac is asking smokers to give up the habit.

He said, "I used to smoke 20-30 roll ups a day before I became ill, but when I was told about the cancer I was smoking up to 75 a day. My nerves were wrecked, I knew I shouldn't but I just couldn't help myself."

"I want to get the message across to people that smoking could claim your life. People will normally dismiss calls to stop but, when I show them my scars they are shocked and left speechless."

Isaac's great sense of humour and the support of his family has clearly helped him on his road to recovery but he realises that life is precious and treasures every minute he has.

He joked: " I told my doctor that I am hanging around until my youngest grandson is married, he's three."

http://www.ash.org.uk