Why I quit smoking: for my son, and for the years ahead

This Stoptober, Stuart Rogers, a 51-year-old lorry driver from Torbay, shares why he decided to quit, and what’s kept him smokefree since. Stuart quit with support from Your Health Torbay’s free stop smoking service.

I’d smoked since I was 13. My dad smoked his whole life too, and he died at 77 from lung cancer after a lifetime of it.

Turning 50 changed how I thought about all that. I’d started noticing it in my own breathing. But it was becoming a parent that really shifted things for me. I didn’t want to end up a statistic like my dad. I wanted to be around to watch my own son grow up. That’s what finally pushed me to actually do something about it, rather than just thinking about it.

I started the programme at the end of October last year, smoking between 20 and 30 cigarettes a day, and blowing 32 on the carbon monoxide monitor at my first appointment.

The team talked me through my options, and I chose to use a vape alongside sixteen-hour patches. I ended up quitting the very next day. A week later, my smokefree status was confirmed on the carbon monoxide monitor. It stayed that way, with clean readings at every single appointment, right through to the end of the programme.

Stuart Rogers said,

“I wanted to preserve my health and be around to see my young son grow up. I didn’t want to become a cancer statistic myself, the way my dad had.”

The hardest part was being around other smokers. That was the real test. What helped was knowing I was accountable to someone. Having my advisor checking in each week kept me going in a way I don’t think I’d have managed alone. I never really felt the patches themselves doing much, but the hand-to-mouth action of the vape made a real difference, especially early on. After about a month I didn’t need the vape anymore, though I kept the patches a bit longer.

My advisor also helped me find other ways to deal with stress instead of just reaching for a cigarette. That matters to me now for more than just my own sake. I want to be the calm, steady presence for my son that I can be, not someone dealing with stress the old way.

The benefits crept up on me. My appetite improved, my breathing got easier, and I could walk further without noticing it. I don’t smell of cigarettes anymore and, as you’d expect, I’ve saved a lot of money. But if you asked me what mattered most, it’s simple: feeling healthier, and feeling confident I’ll actually be there to see my son grow up. There was a real turning point for me. That was the moment I stopped just trying to quit, and actually started believing I was a non-smoker. Everything felt different after that.

My advice to anyone thinking about quitting

Believe you’re actually a non-smoker, rather than telling yourself you’re just trying to give up. That made all the difference to me. Once my outlook shifted, it stopped being a daily battle. And if you’re a smoker thinking about doing this yourself: do it. One hundred percent.

Stuart’s story isn’t unusual here in Torbay. Since 2023, we’ve helped more than 900 local people stop smoking for good. People who get expert support, like Stuart did, are three times more likely to succeed than those who try to quit alone. Our team knows what works, won’t judge you, and is on your side from day one — and it’s all completely free, whether that’s patches, a vape, or just someone to check in with each week.

We’re sharing Stuart’s story as part of Smokefree South West’s wider push this Stoptober. Quitting isn’t only about adding years to your life — it’s about what you get to do with them. For Stuart, that’s watching his son grow up.

If you’re ready to find out what quitting could do for you, call our team on 01803 422 422 or visit yourhealthtorbay.co.uk.