CDC: Tips From Former Smokers – Tammy W.: Influenced At An Early Age
Tammy W. smoked menthol cigarettes. She grew up with a large extended family, many of whom smoked. She also remembers seeing ads on billboards and in magazines that promoted cigarettes. At age 44, Tammy learned she had severe heart disease and needed open-heart surgery. In this video, she encourages people who smoke to quit today. […]
CDC: Tips From Former Smokers – Tammy W.: Everyone Can See It Tip Heart – URL
Tammy W. hid her smoking from everyone. In this ad, Tammy’s tip is, when you are having open-heart surgery, you cannot hide the damage caused by smoking. Everyone can see it. This video can also be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov/wcms/video/low-res/tobacco/2025/655655tips-2025-tammy-w-everyone-can-see-it-tip-heart-URL-30-high-res.mp4 source
CDC: Tips From Former Smokers – Tammy W.: Dirty Secret Tip – URL
Tammy W. thought menthol cigarettes were “healthier.” In this ad, Tammy shares that menthol cigarettes are just as good at causing heart disease as any cigarette. This video can also be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov/wcms/video/low-res/tobacco/2025/10711071tips-2025-tammy-w-dirty-secret-tip-URL-15-high-res.mp4 source
CDC: Tips From Former Smokers – Fred W.: How Much I Miss
Fred W. had throat cancer from smoking cigarettes. He had to give up activities he cherished, such as playing his favorite musical instrument, the saxophone. Fred also had to give up things like spending time at the beach. In this video, he talks about the things he misses because of smoking-related disease. This video can […]
CDC: Tips From Former Smokers – Fred W.: Fishing Tip
Fred W. was diagnosed with throat cancer from smoking when his kids were very young. He now speaks with the help of a laryngeal implant. Fred still wanted to do all the same activities with his kids that his dad did with him, like fishing. But, he has not figured out how to have a […]
CDC: Tips From Former Smokers – Fred W.: Facing The Music
Fred W. was diagnosed with throat cancer from smoking. He had to give up activities he cherished, such as playing his favorite musical instrument, the saxophone. In this video, he talks about the things he had to give up because of smoking-related disease. This video can also be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov/wcms/video/low-res/tobacco/2025/17351735tips-2025-fred-w-facing-the-music-vignette-high-res.mp4 source
CDC: Tips From Former Smokers – Fred W.: Cost of Smoking Takes Tip – URL
Fred W. was diagnosed with throat cancer from smoking. He had surgery to remove the cancer. He now has a stoma (a surgically created opening) in his throat that allows him to breathe and a laryngeal implant that allows him to speak. If you think cigarettes are expensive, here is Fred’s tip – after treatment […]
CDC: Tips From Former Smokers – Felicita R.: Pulling Teeth Tip – URL
Felicita R. smoked for more than 30 years. She was diagnosed with severe gum disease and had to have all of her teeth removed. She was fitted for dentures and now typically eats only soft foods. Felicita’s tip is you might think quitting smoking feels like pulling teeth but it’s not even close. This video […]
CDC: Tips From Former Smokers – Felicita R.: Family First
Felicita R. started smoking at age 12 and smoked for more than 30 years. When she was young, she thought smoking made her look cool. She was diagnosed with severe gum disease at age 50 and had to have all of her teeth removed. In this video, Felicita talks about her mission to help friends […]
CDC: Tips From Former Smokers – Elizabeth B.: Sophisticated Tip – URL
Elizabeth thought smoking menthol cigarettes made her look sophisticated. At age 52, she learned she had smoking-related peripheral artery disease (PAD) and had major surgery to restore blood flow to her legs. In this ad, Elizabeth shares her tip, which is that smoking could give you PAD – as she says, “That’s a sophisticated way […]