Then there are the outward effects: no hair, being able to chew food, but fearing to swallow every bite. I had cancer when I was in fifth grade, and I remember every detail as if it was yesterday. I had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in my throat, underarms, jaw, and groin. I underwent six months of chemotherapy, a month of intense radiation, and took more pills in one year than most people take in numerous lifetimes, and that was only to make up for the side-effects of the treatments.

Why do I feel the need to share this all? When I came to RPI, I loved being around people with similar interests, logic, and priorities. After a couple days here, I started to notice so many people like myself, but they’d be standing around puffing on a cigarette or taking up some other dirty habits. The people here are undoubtedly smart, yet knowingly drive themselves into bad health.

My experience with cancer is nowhere near as bad as what people will experience after years of smoking. I cannot understand why people would inflict this upon themselves, and I don’t bother pursuing that thought. Whereas my cancer was an invisible enemy, and the treatments were far worse than the actual impact of the cancer on my life, what you—as smokers—will experience will be a tangible hell. While my cancer was just kind of there, smokers experience some of the worst things imaginable. I witnessed some of these victims of their habits while I was going to Albany Medical Center for my treatments.

There was one man I frequently saw in the radiation clinic, who had his larynx removed, couldn’t talk, and toted around an oxygen bottle along with his nagging wife. I can’t fathom why people would do this to themselves. I have seen firsthand what smoking does to people, yet I feel almost powerless in the face of my peers. A couple times I saw people (smokers) here who reminded me of myself, for whatever reason. I approached them about it, and introduced myself.

The conversation went something as follows: I would introduce myself as being a cancer survivor and tell very briefly how miserable my life was because of it. I would then say that the cancer and treatments that smokers need undergo are far worse than what I did, and that I really hope these fellow students of mine would quit while they are as healthy are they are now.

What responses have I gotten? Most of the time I receive a sarcastic response, witness a long drag on the cigarette, and then some less than creative evasive maneuvers. One peer, who I hope reads this, clearly knew that it takes a lot for me to go up to a complete stranger and say this to someone. Does he take into account that what I say is true, and maybe he should value it? No, he simply walks off after saying (very sarcastically) “Thanks, I’ll consider it.”

Am I asking for all of you smokers to quit? No, I am merely sharing a very abbreviated version of my experience with you, with the hope of possibly changing the outcome of one person’s life. I can’t imagine how hard it was on my family and friends to be there with me as I went through this. I know that it wasn’t nearly as bad as it would be for people to stand by a friend or family member who knowingly and willingly polluted their body. Think about what you’re doing before lighting up next time. Maybe it was your choice, and maybe it is an addiction; but it is definitely one decision to reconsider, as it has everything to do with the rest of your life.

Ryan Rawdon