A woman who has been treated for cancer in her kidney and lung said she is glad to have quit smoking for the sake of her husband and daughter.
Wendy Robinson, 53, is urging anyone who smokes to seek help to stop smoking after undergoing surgery to remove cancer from her lung at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham. Her story began in her teenage years, when smoking was heavily advertised.
“At the age of 12, when I started smoking, the tobacco industry glamorised smoking everywhere; Bette Lynch in Coronation Street and all the kids smoking in Grange Hill,” she said.
Wendy added: “I feel bad on my family. Because my husband Paul, he has never smoked. And sometimes I think I’ve done the damage to myself by putting that tobacco in my bloodstream and smoking.
“And I’ve seen my husband and he’s crying when he is looking at me… Surgery don’t bother me but thinking of him and my daughter… They’re just so glad I stopped smoking. So glad.”
Wendy quit her habit of 33 years with the aid of a vape. A scan following recent surgery for kidney cancer – also attributable to smoking – revealed a growth on her lung. Her surgeon said her lungs had been healthy enough for surgery the remove the tumour, a benefit of quitting smoking.
(Image: NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB)
Wendy said: “It was a real shock when I discovered that they’d found a nodule on my lung, especially after already having had surgery for kidney cancer, but I couldn’t believe the speed it was dealt with – I had an appointment with a consultant within three weeks, and surgery was scheduled to remove the nodule by the end of January.
“It is scary to think that the lung cancer could still be there without me knowing. I have missed too much because of smoking, and I don’t want to miss anything else – I’m so glad that I’ve quit and I’m doing everything I can to protect my future health, and help other people to do the same.”
Wendy’s consultant, Mr Michael Gooseman, Consultant Thoracic Surgeon based at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham added: “Wendy has been incredibly brave and generous in sharing her story so openly with the aim of helping others and to provide real inspiration to stop smoking.
(Image: NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB)
“When patients are found to have nodules in the lungs there will be many occasions where they continue to smoke. I want to emphasise there are huge health benefits through stopping smoking at any stage, but especially when changes have occurred in the lungs.
“Smoking can cause ongoing damage to the lung, meaning it’s harder to breathe and makes surgery a riskier option. In some cases, it is not safe to offer surgery as the patients’ lungs are not strong enough.
“Wendy’s story shows the excellent outcomes that can be achieved. I am delighted with how her surgery went, being discharged the day following major surgery and making the fantastic recovery she has. She has remained extremely positive, showing the benefits stopping smoking can bring.”
Tobacco dependency (smoking) remains the leading cause of preventable death in the UK and is a major concern for the Humber and North Yorkshire region, which contains areas with some of the highest smoking rates in the country.
Scott Crosby, Associate Director for the Humber and North Yorkshire Centre for Excellence in Tobacco Control said: “Smoking rates have gradually declined over the years, however there are still thousands of people across our communities who have been snared into smoking and are now living with debilitating health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, emphysema, and cancer.
“The progression of the historic Tobacco and Vapes Bill marks a once-in-a-generation chance to protect people from this uniquely lethal product and make it easier for smokers to quit for good.
“Most people who smoke want to stop, and with the right support – whether stop smoking services, quitting aids, or switching completely to vaping – it’s much easier. Thousands successfully quit every year and live healthier, longer lives and our Yes to Quit campaign hopes to drive more people than ever before to quit for good.
“If you’ve tried before, don’t stop trying. Your next attempt could be the one that works.”
Wendy’s story is part of the ‘Yes to Quit’ campaign, launched across TV, radio, transport links and social media at the end of March throughout Yorkshire and the Humber.
If you, or someone you care about, wants to find out more about quitting and the local services available to you, visit www.yestoquit.co.uk where you can explore how much money you can save, hear from others who have tried different methods to quit, and connect to the support available.