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Meet Sharon A.
Growing up in the seventies, it seemed to Sharon like everyone smoked cigarettes. She was only 13 when she took her first puff. In no time, her casual smoking would turn into a full-blown and expensive addiction. She smoked menthol cigarettes heavily for 25 years.
In 1997, at just 37, Sharon noticed a large growth on her throat and was diagnosed with stage IV throat cancer. She underwent radiation and several surgeries, and her larynx was removed. Today, at age 58, Sharon has been smokefree for 14 years and speaks with the aid of an electronic voice box.
On This Page
Free Quitting Resources
Telephone
- 1-800-QUIT-NOW
- 1-855-DÉJELO-YA (Español)
- 1-800-838-8917 (中文)
- 1-800-556-5564 (한국어)
- 1-800-778-8440 (Tiếng Việt)
Smartphone Apps/Text
- Text QUITNOW to 333888—Message and data rates may apply
- quitSTART appexternal icon
Web
- Quit Smoking (En Español)
- Smokefree.govexternal icon (En Español)
- Asian Smokers’ Quitlineexternal icon
Sharon A.’s Videos
Sharon A.’s “Treadmill” Tips Commercial
CDC: Tips From Former Smokers - Sharon A.’s “Treadmill” Tips Commercial
Audio Description Low Resolution Video
Sharon started smoking menthol cigarettes at age 13. When she was in her late 30s, she was diagnosed with throat cancer and she quit smoking. Despite repeated surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation, doctors had to remove Sharon’s voice box to save her life. In this commercial, Sharon shares that walking every day makes her feel like herself again—almost.
Tiffany R. and Sharon A.’s “Ways to Quit” Tips Commercial
CDC: Tips From Former Smokers - Tiffany R. and Sharon A.’s Ways to Quit Tips Commercial
Audio Description Low Resolution Video
In this commercial, Tiffany encourages people who smoke to get help to quit for good, using proven methods like smoking cessation counseling and nicotine replacement therapy, before they need to have their voice box removed like Sharon.
On This Page
Free Quitting Resources
Telephone
- 1-800-QUIT-NOW
- 1-855-DÉJELO-YA (Español)
- 1-800-838-8917 (中文)
- 1-800-556-5564 (한국어)
- 1-800-778-8440 (Tiếng Việt)
Smartphone Apps/Text
- Text QUITNOW to 333888—Message and data rates may apply
- quitSTART appexternal icon
Web
- Quit Smoking (En Español)
- Smokefree.govexternal icon (En Español)
- Asian Smokers’ Quitlineexternal icon
Sharon A.’s ”Peer Pressure” Story
CDC: Tips From Former Smokers - Sharon A.’s Peer Pressure Story
Audio Description Low Resolution Video
Like many teenage girls, Sharon started smoking in junior high school to fit in. She thought since all her friends were smoking, it was the cool thing to do. Sharon’s 12-year-old granddaughter is in junior high now. In this video, Sharon talks about her fear that her granddaughter will give in to peer pressure and try smoking. She says kids don’t realize that it doesn’t take long to get hooked.
Sharon A.’s “Diagnosed at 37” Story
CDC: Tips From Former Smokers - Sharon A.’s Diagnosed at 37 Story
Audio Description Low Resolution Video
Sharon started smoking at age 13. In her late 30s, she was diagnosed with throat cancer. She was a busy mom with two children. She made their lunches, took them to school, and was active in parent-teacher groups. In this video, Sharon talks about finding a lump in her neck and being told it was cancer. Doctors treated the tumor with chemotherapy and radiation, and tried to save her voice box. But when her symptoms returned a year later, her doctor said removing her voice box was the next step.
Sharon A.’s Story
Sharon was diagnosed with throat cancer in her 30s after smoking for many years. She talks about how she never thought smoking would lead to problems at such a young age in this video from CDC’s Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign.
Anthem Ad
This TV ad, from CDC’s Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign, features Shane T., Sharon A., and Shawn W. — three people who have stomas as a result of their cigarette smoking. They provide tips on how to live with this condition.
Persons with disabilities experiencing problems accessing these videos should contact CDC-INFO at CDC-INFO email form: https://www.cdc.gov/info, 800-232-4636 or the TTY number at (888) 232-6348 and ask for a 508 Accommodation PR#9342. If emailing please type “508 Accommodation PR#9342” without quotes in the subject line of the email. Please include the URL of the site in the Subject line of your email request that you would like to access.
View more Tips videos sorted by name, disease and specific groups
View the Tips YouTube video playlist
[](https://smokefree.gov/tips)
Sharon A.’s Biography
Growing up in the seventies, it seemed to Sharon like everyone smoked cigarettes. She was only 13 when she took her first puff. In no time, her casual smoking would turn into a full-blown and expensive addiction to menthol cigarettes.
She smoked menthol cigarettes heavily for 25 years. The wife and mother of two knew something was wrong when she felt fatigued and nauseous regularly. Sharon also noticed a growth on her throat. A biopsy would reveal a cancerous tumor in her throat so large it could be seen through the skin on her neck. The discomfort was unbearable. “I could barely drink water,” she says.
In 1997, at just 37, Sharon was diagnosed with stage IV throat cancer. She underwent radiation and several surgeries. Her life changed drastically, but she adds, “Life goes on after cancer.”
Today, Sharon is 58 and takes things one day at a time. She communicates using an electronic voice box, given that her larynx had to be removed. Smokefree for 14 years and counting, Sharon knows that if she was able to quit, anyone can. “I used to wake up in the middle of the night to smoke, and it was the first thing I did in the morning,” she says.
Through the efforts of the Tips From Former Smokers® campaign, Sharon hopes to spread the message that smoking cigarettes can lead to devastating outcomes. “I want to connect with kids especially, because they are under a lot of pressure to fit in,” she says.
More About Sharon A.
[Print Ad
Sharon A. and Christine B.’s Tip: Friends [PDF – 5MB]
[Print Ad
Sharon A.'s Tip [PDF – 6MB]
Additional Resources
[Cancer
Get the Facts
](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/cancer.html)
[Menthol Cigarettes
Get the Facts
](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/menthol-tobacco/index.html)
More Related Stories
More Real Stories about cancer:
[Meet Andy A.
](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/andy-a.html)
[Meet Annette S.
](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/annette.html)
[Meet Brian H.
](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/brian-heart.html)
[Meet Christine B.
](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/christine.html)
[Meet Fred W.
](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/fred-w.html)
[Meet Elizabeth B.
](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/elizabeth-b.html)
[Meet Julia C.
](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/julia.html)
[Meet Mark A.
](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/mark.html)
[Meet Rose H.
](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/rose.html)
[Meet Shane T.
](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/shane.html)
[Meet Shawn W.
](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/shawn.html)
[Meet Terrie H.
](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/terrie.html)
See all Tips Participant Stories
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