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After smoking for 50 years, Christine from Barnsley never imagined she would successfully quit smoking. But when she was told she needed to stop smoking ahead of an operation, everything changed.
With support from Yorkshire Smokefree, nicotine replacement therapy and regular face-to-face appointments, Christine became smokefree in January 2026 and says the difference to her health and daily life has been incredible.
Christine’s main reason for quitting smoking was simple: she needed to stop in order to have an operation. The fear surrounding her health and surgery became a major turning point and gave her the focus she needed to quit. “It was the operation that scared me and made me focus on stopping smoking.”
Christine had tried to stop smoking before and had managed to quit a couple of years earlier. However, like many smokers, she believed she could return to having “just one” cigarette occasionally: “I started having a sneaky cig and thinking I could do this, but I couldn’t.” Unfortunately, those occasional cigarettes quickly led back to smoking regularly again. Because of this experience, Christine admits she didn’t feel confident before starting her quit journey with Yorkshire Smokefree.
Christine chose to use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), including nicotine patches and nicotine gum. For her, the patches made the biggest difference, telling us: “The patches more than anything were the most helpful.”
She explained that she could actually feel them working because she no longer craved cigarettes in the same way. The nicotine gum also helped support her quit attempt, but it was the combination of treatment and determination that kept her focused on becoming smokefree.
Alongside nicotine replacement therapy, Christine found the one-to-one support from Yorkshire Smokefree invaluable. She attended face-to-face appointments in Barnsley where she could openly discuss both the good days and the more difficult moments with her advisor: “Being able to chat about the good and bad and how to work past any blips really helped.”
Christine also found regular carbon monoxide (CO) readings motivating throughout her quit journey. Seeing her readings return to a normal level gave her reassurance that her body was recovering from smoking.
Since quitting smoking, Christine has noticed major improvements in her breathing and overall health. She says she no longer coughs as much and can now walk up hills more easily.
“I still get out of breath, but not as much as before.”
Christine had previously been diagnosed by her GP with both Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and asthma. However, after being smokefree for several months, she received incredible news from her doctor.
“My GP said I no longer have COPD.”
Quitting smoking has also brought financial benefits. Christine says she now has more money to spend on herself and has been able to enjoy little treats she previously wouldn’t have prioritised. One of the biggest things she has done since quitting is having dental treatment she had wanted for some time and was excited to tell us: “I’ve had my teeth done.” She also enjoys the freedom that comes with no longer depending on cigarettes.
After smoking for five decades, Christine wants others to know that quitting is possible, but staying committed is key. Her advice to anyone trying to quit smoking is:
“Keep going to your appointments. Face to face is better because you’re seeing someone in person and it’s more engaging.”
She also warns against the temptation of “just one cigarette.”
“Don’t give in to anyone offering you a cigarette. Don’t think you can have just one cig, because if you do, it can take you back to full-on smoking.”
No matter how long you’ve smoked, support is available to help you quit successfully. Find out more about the free support available from Yorkshire Smokefree and take your first step towards becoming smokefree today.
