Sneek-peek into my world

Smoke Away...

At work, I've been assigned an Internet Cigarette Sales Project where I issue out notices to those involved in the act of cigarette purchasing online, which by the way is illegal. It is illegal due to the simple fact that by purchasing cigarettes online, one avoids sales and tobacco tax making the transaction a very affordable one. Now, these folks have 20 days to pay this tax before I put them on the intercept list and have them assessed (which basically means they won't be able to receive the refunds from their tax returns unless they pay and until then the interest and penalties are just going to keep piling)! Upon their receipt of these notices, my phone rings non-stop... with complaints ranging from how unjust I am to how they cannot afford the money anymore.

Now, a lot of them are either sick in the hospital or dead. I had one case where in the beginning of the month, one of the tax-evaders was in the process of undergoing heart surgery and 3 weeks later, her husband called to break the unfortunate news.

I even had this one woman, who fled to Tennessee to avoid the expensive life in Maryland (you don't have to pay taxes in TN). But, she called anyway to tell me that smoking is her only source of entertainment, since she has no life but to work 3 jobs. Then she went into the theory of why the government infuses taxes on cigarettes. And whether she smoked or not, underaged kids were doing it anyway!

That is when my concious brain fell into the cunning hands of confusion. The question here was, why does the government enforce tobacco tax? Well for one, it is a bulky form of revenue. And two, it's a danger to the lives of the citizens.

To avoid such confusion, and to be able to better articulate myself in my battle against the smoking tax-avoiders, I decided to research on the ill-effects of smoking. The following is what I gathered from the American Lung Association and because I care so much about all my readers out there... I shall impart my knowledge with you!

WHAT IS LUNG CANCER?
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women. An estimated 173,700 new cases of lung cancer and an estimated 160,440 deaths from lung cancer will occur in the United States during 2004.
The rate of lung cancer cases appears to be dropping among white and African-American men in the United States, while it continues to rise among both white and African-American women.
There are two major types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is much more common. It usually spreads to different parts of the body more slowly than small cell lung cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma are three types of non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer also called oat cell cancer, accounts for about 20% of all lung cancer.

WHAT CAUSES LUNG CANCER?
Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. Lung cancer may also be the most tragic cancer because in most cases, it might have been prevented -- 87% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 different chemicals, many of which are proven cancer-causing substances, or carcinogens. Smoking cigars or pipes also increases the risk of lung cancer.
The more time and quantity you smoke, the greater your risk of lung cancer. But if you stop smoking, the risk of lung cancer decreases each year as normal cells replace abnormal cells. After ten years, the risk drops to a level that is one-third to one-half of the risk for people who continue to smoke. In addition, quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of developing other smoking-related diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Many of the chemicals in tobacco smoke also affect the nonsmoker inhaling the smoke, making "secondhand smoking" another important cause of lung cancer. It is responsible for approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths annually.
Radon is considered to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. today. Radon gas can come up through the soil under a home or building and enter through gaps and cracks in the foundation or insulation, as well as through pipes, drains, walls or other openings. Radon causes between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States -- 12 percent of all lung cancer deaths are linked to radon.
Radon problems have been found in every state. The EPA estimates that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. has indoor radon levels at or above the level at which homeowners should take action -- 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) on a yearly average. Radon can be a problem in schools and workplaces, too.
Because you cannot see or smell radon, the only way to tell if you are being exposed to the gas is by measuring radon levels. Exposure to radon in combination with cigarette smoking greatly increases the risk of lung cancer. That means for smokers, exposure to radon is an even greater health risk.
Another leading cause of lung cancer is on-the-job exposure to cancer-causing substances or carcinogens. Asbestos is a well-known, work-related substance that can cause lung cancer, but there are many others, including uranium, arsenic, and certain petroleum products.
There are many different jobs that may involve exposure. Some examples are working with certain types of insulation, working in coke ovens, and repairing brakes. When exposure to job-related carcinogens is combined with smoking, the risk of getting lung cancer is sharply increased.
A recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association suggests that particulate matter pollution can cause lung cancer.
Lung cancer takes many years to develop. But changes in the lung can begin almost as soon as a person is exposed to cancer-causing substances. Soon after exposure begins, a few abnormal cells may appear in the lining of the bronchi (the main breathing tubes). If a person continues to be exposed to the cancer-causing substance, more abnormal cells will appear. These cells may be on their way to becoming cancerous and forming a tumor.

HOW IS LUNG CANCER DETECTED?
In its early stages, lung cancer usually does not cause symptoms. When symptoms occur, the cancer is often advanced. Symptoms of lung cancer include:
.Chronic cough
.Hoarseness
.Coughing up blood
.Weight loss & loss of appetite
.Shortness of breath
.Fever without a known reason
.Wheezing
.Repeated bouts of bronchitis or pneumonia
.Chest pain
These conditions are also symptomatic of many other lung problems, so a person who has any of these symptoms should see a doctor to find out the cause. When a person goes for an exam, the doctor ask many questions about the person's medical history, including questions about the patient's exposure to hazardous substances. The doctor will also give the patient a physical exam. If the patient has a cough that produces a sputum (mucus), it may be examined for cancer cells. The doctor will order a chest X-ray or specialized X-ray such as the CT scan, which help to locate any abnormal spots in the lungs. The doctor may insert a small tube called a bronchoscope through the nose or mouth and down the throat, to look inside the airways and lungs and take a sample, or biopsy, of the tumor. This is just one of several ways in which a doctor may take a biopsy sample.
A growing number of doctors are using a form of CT scan in smokers to spot small lung cancers, which are more likely than large tumors to be cured. The technique, called helical low-dose CT scan, is much more sensitive than a regular X-ray and can detect tumors when they are small.
More studies on this type of screening will show whether routine screening of smokers and others at risk for lung cancer will save lives.
If you are diagnosed with cancer, the doctor will do testing to find out whether the cancer has spread, and, if so, to which parts of the body. This information will help the doctor plan the most effective treatment. Tests to find out whether the cancer has spread can include a CT scan, an MRI, or a bone scan.

HOW CAN YOU PREVENT LUNG CANCER?
If you are a smoker, STOP SMOKING. Your local American Lung Association has books, videos, and group programs to help you quit for good.
The Lung Association is also offering a new way to stop smoking through its Freedom From Smoking® online smoking cessation clinic. Find out more by visiting the American Lung Association website at www.ffsonline.org.
If you are a nonsmoker, know your rights to a smoke-free environment a twork and in public places. Make your home smoke-free.
Test your home for radon.
If you are exposed to dusts and fumes at work, ask questions about how you are being protected. Don't smoke -- smoking increases your risk from many occupational exposures.

posted by surbhi seth @ 11:48 AM