Story highlights Shane Todd of CDC's "Tips From Former Smokers" campaign died of cancerHe shared his story with millions in the anti-smoking campaign videos(CNN) Shane Todd, a familiar face in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's well-known "Tips From Former Smokers" campaign, has died from complications of cancer. Todd started smoking cigarettes when he was 18, and the habit caused throat cancer, with which he was diagnosed at age 34. In a statement Wednesday, CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden wrote, "Shane was so proud of the impact (of) the Tips campaign and his role in its success, noting recently, it was the 'best feeling in the world knowing I have changed lives.' "Todd, whose face appeared in televised campaign ads nationwide, underwent surgeries including removal of his voice box and parts of his esophagus. It left a hole in his neck, called a stomaIn the campaign videos, he explained how to crouch, not bend over, with a stoma and that you couldn't use spray paint if you had one.

Source: CNN August 17, 2016 20:04 UTC