A breast cancer diagnosis made her quit smoking after 30 years.

Having smoked since a young age, 59-year-old Yalçın increased his cigarette use to 1.5 packs a day after his wife's death.

Yalçın, who applied to Bilkent City Hospital due to persistent severe pain in her left chest, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.

Yalçın, who quit smoking to get a positive response to his treatment, told an AA correspondent about his experience.

Yalçın, who stated that he made an appointment at the Bilkent City Hospital Smoking Cessation Clinic after his diagnosis, said, "I went to the hospital complaining of left chest pain and was diagnosed with cancer. When I received the cancer diagnosis, I was devastated and decided to quit smoking. I had been smoking for 30 years and was smoking 1.5 packs a day, but I don't anymore. If I can quit, anyone can."

Yalçın, who said that he felt better and more dynamic after quitting smoking, said, "When I was smoking, I was suffocating, I couldn't breathe, I was wheezing. Since I haven't smoked for six months, these complaints are gone. I feel my freedom with every breath. Smokers should quit."

Ankara Bilkent City Hospital Chest Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Karalezli told an AA correspondent that Hatice Yalçın decided to quit smoking after receiving her diagnosis and applied to their polyclinic.

Karalezli stated the following:

"In cancer patients, smoking can negatively impact both medications and the disease itself. Continuing to smoke could have caused a second cancer. He made the right decision to apply to our clinic and has quit smoking for six months. The smoking rate in our country is as high as 44 percent. This rate was lower among women, but it's starting to increase."

Karalezli emphasized that the Ministry of Health's ongoing fight against smoking is intensive, and stated that the smoking cessation rate among patients coming for checkups at Bilkent City Hospital is approximately 52 percent.

Karalezli stated that people who want to quit smoking can make appointments through the ALO 171 Smoking Quit Helpline and MHRS.