A man in the business of helping smokers quit, has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Allen Carr, who was a heavy smoker for 33 years, found what he claimed was an easy way to quit smoking after he quit smoking 23 years ago. Using cognitive therapy, Carr told smokers interested in quitting that they could do it without willpower, without suffering withdrawal and without gaining weight. The celebrity endorsements include Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sean Bean, Marie Helvin, Johnny Cash, George Harrison, Lisa Stansfield, Sir Richard Branson, Susannah York, Bruce Oldfield, Stefano Gabbana and Julie Christie.

Carr believes his lung cancer diagnosis might be the result of second-hand smoke after spending the last 23 years in the presence of his clients who signed up for his Easy Way to Stop Smoking program.

On being diagnosed with lung cancer, Carr was quoted as saying, "I have been the happiest man in the world since I stopped smoking 23 years ago and I still feel the same way. This has come as a shock but I remain very upbeat."

In addition to his quit smoking workshops, Carr wrote a book Alan Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking, which has sold more than 10 million copies in more than 45 countries. He claims his Easy Way to Stop Smoking method has a 53 percent success rate after 12 months compared with less than 5 percent for those who go cold turkey. Easy Way maintains a website.