Coaching and care help a patient celebrate a smoke free, cancer free milestone

Alisa McQuay, IU Health patient, smoked cigarettes for decades. She always felt the need to quit smoking, but couldn’t quite achieve it, even with the smoking cessation medications, nicotine replacement products and conversations with quit coaches that she tried.

“My job started taking money out of my paycheck for being a smoker. That’s when I thought, I have to do something – this is too much money they are taking [out] because I’m a smoker,” says McQuay.

When she sought out smoking cessation options through IU Health, she was connected with Jodie Fisher, MPH, NBC-HWC, lead Nationally Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) of IU Health’s Centralized Tobacco Treatment Program (CTTP).

“Me and Jodie have been clicking ever since,” says McQuay. “Jodie is fantastic. She is a character. I would recommend her to anybody because of how she has helped and coached me.”

CTTP offers IU Health primary care patients who smoke, vape or use oral nicotine products (such as chewing tobacco or pouches) cessation support and a quit plan all through scheduled phone calls with a TTS like Fisher. McQuay is smoke free now thanks to the bond and support from her partnership with Fisher.

“Our program focuses on establishing a personal, supportive relationship that prioritizes the patient’s individual needs,” says Fisher. “Patients are given autonomy to decide what is best for them, and I provide a guiding hand as needed. This program is unique in that we meet with patients from their first appointment, through the entire quit process and up to one year nicotine free to assist with relapse prevention.”

Fisher has been there every step of the way for McQuay. They navigated McQuay’s smoking triggers and setbacks together and celebrate her wins along the way.

“She has really, really been a big help to me,” says McQuay. “She's been coaching me even when I don't feel great. She tries to uplift me to help me feel a little bit better. I just love her.”

Quitting smoking helped McQuay breathe and feel better overall but it turned out to be a blessing for her whole health.

“I had been having some procedures done at the doctor's office. I didn't know what was going on with my health,” says McQuay. “I had to go in and see a cancer doctor. I had all these tests done, and he said, ‘Lisa, I don't know how to tell you this, but in your right lung, you have first stage cancer.”

Cancer treatment via radiation and her continued smoking cessation efforts have allowed the two to celebrate McQuay’s smoke free and cancer free life.

“I told Jodie, ‘I never want to lose you. I don't care if I've stopped smoking. I still want to hear your voice and encouragement,'" says McQuay. “That's my sister.”

Learn more about IU Health’s tobacco cessation options here.