Today is the Great American Spit Out. The folks at TRICARE, the military's health plan, are calling on all troops who chew tobacco to participate in the one day pledge to stop using. And there are far too many servicemen out there who chew. According to TRICARE, roughly one in five young men in the military uses smokeless tobacco. This puts our military at risk, as the National Cancer Institute reports:
The Oral Cancer Foundation has some startling statistics: oral cancer kills one American EACH HOUR, EVERY HOUR of the day. The death rate for oral cancer is surprisingly high - higher than skin cancer, cervical cancer, or testicular cancer.
This is an issue that is very dear to my heart. I watched someone very close to me battle oral cancer for more than a dozen years before it finally claimed her life. What all you chewers need to know is that oral cancer can be horribly disfiguring. The radiation can destroy your salivary glands. Parts of your tongue, lips, and face can be removed.You can lose your ability to speak, and to eat.
Going just one day without chewing tobacco doesn't sound so bad now, does it? If you didn't do it today, how about tomorrow? OK, off my soapbox for now!
