Susan is originally from Philadelphia but now lives in New York City. She is from a large, close-knit family of eight. Everyone in her family smoked except for her sister.

Susan began smoking at 15 to "appear cool like friends" and smoked for roughly 30 years. She thinks she was aware that smoking was bad for her, but "to be cool, you're willing to make lots of sacrifices."

She lost her father to cancer of the esophagus from smoking. She regrets not quitting after watching her father lose his larynx, his voice and his life to smoking. Susan was diagnosed with cancer of the throat and palate. The radiation treatment affected her ability to produce saliva, so Susan can no longer eat solid food and must constantly drink water.

Susan quit smoking when she was diagnosed and has since become more involved with her church community. She is proud of quitting smoking and hopes her efforts in this campaign will convince others to quit before something tragic happens to them.

For more information on throat cancer, please visit the American Cancer Society.