Perhaps less well known by name on our list of famous people with lung cancer, but worthy of great admiration for his role in helping perhaps 10 million people kick the smoking habit, Allen Carr is remembered as the quit smoking guru.
Allen Carr began his endeavor to help others after struggling with a 30 year, 2 1/2 pack per day smoking habit himself. He shared the process that helped him quit in his book "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" - a book that went on to sell millions of copies worldwide.
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In the summer of 2006, Carr was feeling achy all over and was found to have hypercalcemia - an elevated calcium level sometimes found with lung cancer. Subsequent studies revealed that he had squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs that had spread to his ribs and lymph nodes, making it inoperable.
Upon learning of his diagnosis, 23 years after quitting, Carr stated: "Smoking was virtually killing me 20-odd years ago. If I hadn't quit then, I'm certain I would have died long ago. I see those extra years as the most marvelous bonus." Allen Carr underwent chemotherapy before passing away November 29, 2006, surrounded by his family at his home in Spain. He was 72 years old.
Allen Carr's Easyway to Stop Smoking center, located in England, reaches out to more than 50,000 smokers in 45 countries with its seminars each year. Its worldwide director, John Dicey, assured me that "Allen's legacy continues to grow and grow, and everyone at Allen Carr's Easyway is working tirelessly to ensure it achieves it's full potential." I believe Allen would be proud.
