Hi David and congratulations on completing our 12 week programme! Can you tell me your reasons for wanting to stop smoking?
"I didn’t really have any specific reasons. I didn’t want to stop, but my sister nudged me to try after I had a consultation in hospital and said, “If Dawn (my wife) was here, you would do it for her”, and I said “ Yes, you are right”. In 2023 I lost my wife to cancer, and at the early stages she asked her consultant if cancer was due to smoking, and they couldn’t say yes or no. But smoking can be a contribution to cancer. And that is one of the reasons it really spurred me on to try."
If you have previously tried to stop smoking before, without success, can you explain what was different for you on this occasion?
"Me and my wife bought vapes several years ago to try and stop smoking, but we continued to have an odd cigarette. After a while, I discovered that my wife was still smoking, so we decided to carry on smoking."
How did you feel before your first appointment about stopping smoking compared to after your first few appointments?
"Before my first appointment I felt anxious as I didn’t know what to expect and I was still smoking. After first few appointments with help from the advisor I cut down a lot on my smoking until one day instead of cutting down I completely stopped."
Did you use any products to help you stop smoking? NRT/Vapes/Medications?
I switched to a vape."
Did you find the products helpful? Would you recommend other wishing to stop smoking use this product? If so why?
"I would recommend using a vape to those that want to stop smoking, because it works, it worked for me. And I was a smoker for approximately 50 years. My neighbour also has quit smoking using a vape after seeing my success."
Did you have any other motivations, apart from being able to use products, to help you stop smoking?
"Yes, I did. Smoking ruined a lot of my clothes due to cig burns and that doesn’t happen no more. Also, my skin between fingers was clearing up as I stopped smoking which before I was really embarrassed about."
Now you are no longer a smoker, what are you enjoying the most about being smoke free?
"I used to smoke roll ups and I like not having to roll any before I go out. The house smells a hell of a lot of better since I stopped smoking. When I smoked it stopped my oldest son and granddaughter coming to visit me because of the house smell and changed since."
Has your health improved since your quit and if so, in what ways?
"I do feel a bit better since stopping smoking. I don’t use easy breath inhaler for my COPD as much since."
Other than health improvements, have you noticed anything you can now do that you couldn’t do whilst smoking?
"Me and my sister try to go out once a week and now when we do I don’t need to go out to smoke outside. It’s great that I can now say I am not a smoker during any medical appointment."
What did you find helpful whilst accessing Sheffield Smokefree service?
"Motivation, advice and guidance from advisor was really helpful."
Huge congratulations on your quit, David. You've done so well over the course of the programme and we wish you all the best for the future.
