CDC: Tips From Former Smokers - Shawn W.’s Tip Ad

Shawn was 14 years old when he started smoking. In his mid-40s, a chronic cough and laryngitis turned out to be throat cancer. He finally quit smoking—but doctors were unable to save his larynx. In this TV ad, Shawn talks about the hardships of life with a stoma, a permanent opening in his throat.


This video can also be viewed at

[skinnyp]

I don't wanna clean my speaking valve no please

[TicTacYo]

These commercials harmed me physically.

[rockonkayla]

My dad's old friend :\ I grew up around this man.

[YouCareMoreThanMe]

My mother would tell me stories of the heartbreak it would cause her family, listening to my grandfather choke on the fluids that built up in his lungs at night. Even with plenty of family to support him, he never stopped. He did for a bit, but eventually got into to again. He would constantly smoke, and cycle through the sleepless nights of hacking and breathing problems. Seeing the result of a slow suicide, but couldn't ever get around to stopping. I never met him, or my fathers dad. They both smoked, they both died of the same thing. They eventually developed COPD, were hospitalized, and eventually passed away in the hospitals. This isn't a sob story, it's reality, don't only quit for yourself, but for those around you. Life is short enough as it is, don't make it shorter.

[EarlAllenBoek]

 
I'm a forty year smoker, on my third day on patches. My chest is 
clearer and I'm not sneezing, coughing or blowing my nose, and I
don't stink anymore to those that don't smoke. Mom says she's
proud of me and my wife Virginia, she stopped a month a head of
me. I promised her I would after she did.  TA

[Krillwifu]

I felt my throat close up when he was cleaning his stoma.

[pogijuice]

WHEW!! i'm glad i quit cold turkey....that was what...15, 20 yrs ago..

[liamwallace]

This is one of the reasons I may never smoke

[JeffreyOchoaTCB]

Who else heard some kind of chewing sound when he was cleaning his speech vowel?

[earlieasfgaw]

OMG im glad I saw this, After this video I will never smoke or Do any drugs again

[unscripted]

where's the part where he says "Don't smoke"?

[clanden]

Look in his eyes he's like already dead inside

[lampdee]

*I don't see why anyone would rate this a thumbs down.* 
*I guess only smokers would, & they think, "Oh, pfft! That's a bunch of butt!" (I said 'butt' instead of you know what).* *A lot of people just think it won't happen to them.*

[TSMD]

There was a man I used to see around town all the time a few years ago and he had one of those and it always looked infected and oozy

[joshuabellamyfl]

What is the fourth thing Shawn says in the commercial? It's the one after, "Be very careful shaving.", and before, "Clean out your speech valve twice a day." It sounds as if he is only allowed to eat soft foods.

[emmaglps]

This is so disturbing... I almost puked all my pizza, and so did everyone else.

[scottydu]

My mom had a few unsuccessful attempts at quitting smoking until it finally stuck about 15, 20 years ago. Though when she says she quit smoking, i always tell her "no mom, you havent quit smoking, you've just paused! Only on your death bes can you truly say youve quit!" But thats just how i joke :)

[kayleeschroeder]

I kind of think smoking should be illegal. Just

[nthnbt]

Hey CDC,

Can you make a compilation of

CDC: Tips From Former Smokers -- Sharon's Ad

and

CDC: Tips From Former Smokers -- Shane's Ad?

[lpsrachel]

My mom smokes and keep trying to convince her too stop... Any tips?