Man teaches students dangers of nicotine

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

Rick Bender, who lost most of his neck, and his lower jaw and lower teeth to cancer and subsequent infections from chewing tobacco, holds up a can of tobacco while talking about the hazards of chewing. [Courtesy Photo]

EASTERN CIBOLA COUNTY — Rick Bender started chewing tobacco when he was 12. At the age of 26 he was diagnosed with cancer and lost much of his neck, his lower jaw and his lower teeth to the disease and subsequent infections, having to undergo four major surgeries in a two year period.

Today he is cancer free and lives a life of educating people, especially middle school and elementary school aged pupils about the hazards of chewing tobacco and smoking.

On Friday, Bender will visit three schools in eastern Cibola County, beginning with Laguna Elementary School, then Laguna-Acoma Middle School and finally Sky City Elementary School.

At each of these schools, he said he will include a slide show about the medical effects of chewing tobacco.
“It’s not only cancer you get, but also heart disease and bladder problems,” he said in a telephone interview with the Independent.

Bender is appearing at the schools as part of an anti-tobacco campaign sponsored by and run by the youth councils at Future Foundations Family Center.

The councils sponsor anti-tobacco events during each school year as part of an overall program the councils have to educate youth.

Bender includes in his presentation information about a 19-year-old teenager, Shawn Marsee, who started chewing tobacco at the age of 12, was diagnosed with cancer at age 19 and died shortly after graduating from high school in Oklahoma.

“I don’t have anything too graphic in my slide show, but I do show some things that happened to my mouth and Shawn,” Bender said. “Some of the other problems individuals become afflicted with when chewing tobacco include: High blood pressure and poor circulation in the legs is increased for those who may be diabetic.”

Secondhand smoke is also bad, he said.

“People pay the price for secondhand smoke. They decided not to participate in smoking, but they pay for the effects of the smoke,” he said, by having strokes and cardiovascular disease.

“If you put tobacco in your mouth, the nicotine is going to cause problems,” he said, referring to the medical issues noted previously.

Part of his presentation will include warning signs, including gum recession in the mouth, an early sign of a medical problem.

Bender’s presentation lasts about 40-45 minutes and he changes the information and the delivery of that information based on the way the young pupils are behaving, he said.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 287-2197
or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.