Jody Nash and Patti Roten are sisters-in-law, and both are Administrative Associates at the UNC Cancer Hospital. They have a close relationship and decided to participate in the Tobacco Free Tar Heels program together in order to support each other’s efforts to quit smoking.

Jody’s motivation to quit smoking came from billboards on the highway promoting lung screening for current and former smokers. Her test results came back negative (cancer free!) and she decided to stop smoking to remain healthy. Jody remarked, “I see many cancer patients at my job, and many of them smoke; I don’t want that to be me.”

The National Cancer Institute has awarded University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers a $500,000, two-year grant to dramatically expand tobacco cessation treatment services for patients at the NC Cancer Hospital. Starting January of 2018, program leaders at UNC’s Tobacco Treatment Program (formerly the Nicotine Dependence Program) have been utilizing the grant to … Read more

In 2019, UNC TTP partnered with Rex Healthcare to build a tobacco treatment program working with cancer patients in Wake and Johnston counties. Stay tuned to learn more about how to get connected with treatment at Rex!

Please come enjoy an evening of hors oeuvres, beverages (cash bar), music, and a presentation by renowned speaker Professor Dan Ariely. Your support will help us help North Carolinians reach their wellness goals and live healthier lives!

When Nancy DePalma found herself driving to the store over icy roads to buy cigarettes, or smoking butts she found in her ashtrays, she realized she had a problem. She was “sick and tired” of being held captive by her cigarette addiction and embarrassed when her patients and friends smelled cigarette smoke on her.

Glenn Hair started smoking when he was 12 years old and smoked up to two packs of cigarettes every day. He tried to quit smoking numerous times but always found an excuse for why it was not the right time. He told himself he would quit later, but when he received his cancer diagnosis, he realized that, “One of these days, later isn’t going to come.” 

Lauren Ryan (Chapel Hill Transit) started smoking socially in college and continued to smoke after graduation. Soon, Lauren married, and she and her husband planned to become pregnant. She quit smoking until her son was 17 months old.

Andy Colon decided to quit his tobacco addiction and went all out to create a healthier lifestyle for himself. He changed the way he ate, exercised more and, of course, stopped smoking. A friend told him about the Wellness@Work Tobacco Cessation program and Andy loved the idea of getting the support to quit, as well as the convenience of meeting at his workplace. It gave him the “backbone for change.” The free medications and the incentive of $100 for remaining tobacco free for 6 months encouraged him to reach his goal.

Matt Lawrence came to the Wellness@Work Program dipping a can of tobacco every day, having made multiple “practice attempts” without sustaining abstinence. He hated the control that tobacco exerted over him. In his position as Deputy Fire Chief, he wanted to be a good role model and had become weary of hiding his tobacco use.

May 2, 2017 will mark two years of Susan Hinson’s quitting cigarettes, and is also the due date for her first grandchild! She feels excited about the baby’s arrival and also pleased that she doesn’t have to worry about her smoking affecting the child.