Nine Lives? Not For Smokers! In today's tip we are presenting another good reason not to smoke. And this time it's probably a reason that you have never thought of -- smoking may shorten the lives of your pets! According to a study published in the August 1, 2002 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, cats that have lived with a smoker are 2.4 times more likely to develop malignant lymphoma, a type of cancer, than cats who have never lived with a smoker. Researchers determined this statistic after comparing tobacco use in the homes of 80 cats that developed lymphoma as compared to tobacco use in the homes of 114 cats that did not develop the disease. They found that the more smoke the cats were exposed to, the higher their risk of developing malignant lymphoma. Although further research is needed, it may be possible that second-hand smoke plays a role in lymphoma risk in humans as well. There is no better time than the present to quit smoking. Talk to your doctor about ways to help you quit.

- M. Ellman

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2002