Don't Smoke

If I ever need to be reminded of the world of medicine I'm about to enter, all I have to do is take the Patient elevators at work instead of the ones usually used by Staff. Today, I saw my first laryngectomy (I had to look it up) and it caught me off guard. Its not the kind of thing you see everyday. I didn't stare, but I did catch a good look. More than likely, it was due to some kind of esphogeal cancer - smoking is the likely culprit, but I cant be sure. I think that seeing the hole did more to dissuade me from smoking than all the Truth commercials I've ever seen.

Please don't smoke, it doesn't always kill you.

(Image source: www.microsurgeon.org)