ORAL CANCER SURVIVOR VISITS CALHOUN - Von Behrens Used Tobacco From Age 13

(02/11/2003)

In a county were smokeless tobacco and cigarette smoking is more the norm for high school students, it was at least an awakening listening to Gruen Von Behrens, who came to Calhoun High School last week to share a tragic story about spit tobacco and smoking. The assembly was sponsored by the Calhoun Student Coalition Against Tobacco, with three members of SCAT explaining the toxic effects of tobacco. Von Behrens distorted and sunken face is a startling example of nicotine addiction. He explained he was not touring as an actor, but as a survivor of cancer. The 25-year-old man took his first dip of snuff at age 13. "I noticed a white spot on my tongue when I was a junior," he said, which grew into a tumor, causing drooling and slurred speech. He tried to cover the problem by telling his family it was a problem with his teeth. "My mother cried and cried when I told her about the diagnosis," which was followed by thirty extensive surgeries. Beyond the disfiguration, he lost all his teeth. Von Behrens urged students not to start, or do what ever they can to remove themselves from nicotine addiction. He concluded "I am here because I care about you....and don't want you to go through what I have been through." To read more about Gruen's experience see www.nstep.org

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