Dirty Secret

You still smoke? And, you
You still smoke? And, you had surgery and are on chemo? I didn't think they would do

surgery on you if you still smoked. That is what my plastic surgeon told me, but, I didn't

smoke, so, it didn't matter.

Good luck to you in quitting! I am sure it is hard.

Diane

faithandprayer said:

No Surgery Yet
No, I haven't had surgery yet. When I was diagnosed, my tumor was too close & they wanted to shrink it for clear margins. I'm on the chemo first, then surgery, then radiation plan.

All my organs have checked out clean, and, in fact, my lung function is equal to a non-smoker so, at this point, the concern has not been directly related to my upcoming surgery. Additionally, at my 3 month MRI, the tumor has disappeared completely off the radar...shrunken completely. As I've said. The Good Lord has blessed me every step of the way.

The concern from the medical side is two fold. I obviously can grow cancer. My onco does not want to see me in pulmonary with Lung Cancer. My rad team does not want me smoking in rads or after because statistically it is bad.

But for me, it is time. The only thing worse that I can imagine than being diagnosed with cancer, is to have it blamed on something I did. It was my biggest fear when I was diagnosed. I never want to experience that again. Ever. I've been given a gentle wake up call. I'm awake!

Good luck, KC
Going smokefree for good was way harder than anything else I've ever done in my life - including going on the wagon for good at age 22. I quit smoking cigarettes when I finished grad school - but then started smoking a pipe and cigars. Which, very shortly, I got in the habit of inhaling. Yecch. Best of luck to you!

Joe

faithandprayer said:

No Surgery Yet
No, I haven't had surgery yet. When I was diagnosed, my tumor was too close & they wanted to shrink it for clear margins. I'm on the chemo first, then surgery, then radiation plan.

All my organs have checked out clean, and, in fact, my lung function is equal to a non-smoker so, at this point, the concern has not been directly related to my upcoming surgery. Additionally, at my 3 month MRI, the tumor has disappeared completely off the radar...shrunken completely. As I've said. The Good Lord has blessed me every step of the way.

The concern from the medical side is two fold. I obviously can grow cancer. My onco does not want to see me in pulmonary with Lung Cancer. My rad team does not want me smoking in rads or after because statistically it is bad.

But for me, it is time. The only thing worse that I can imagine than being diagnosed with cancer, is to have it blamed on something I did. It was my biggest fear when I was diagnosed. I never want to experience that again. Ever. I've been given a gentle wake up call. I'm awake!

I know what you mean
As soon as I was diagnosed with cancer, I turned to my husband and boldly stated "my smoking didn't cause my BC!!!". He is an exsmoker of 16 years. Bless his heart, he didn't say a word! But I started thinking about it the whole 3 weeks I continued to smoke. How stupid am I? Here I am going through test, surgery, treatments, diet changes, just to take care of my body, and I am puffing away like nothing is wrong. I was "calming" my nerves. Indulging in pleasure (I LOVED to smoke!!). Asserting control over my body!! Feeding my addiction!! Relaxing!!
Then on a sunday night (May 17, 2009) I decided I wasn't going through all this just to dye from lung cancer, throat cancer, mouth cancer, esophigial cancer, etc. This is it!! I'm going to be kind to my body and give them up that night!! I smoked the slowest cigarett of my life at precisly 11:48pm. I was done. Over with. smokeless.....I said a prayer and asked that the desire to smoke be taken from me by the time I wake up the next morning.
That was it!! Easy as pie. I smoked 35 years and I have not picked up another cigarett and never will!! And what a difference it makes with EVERYTHING!!
I was literaly scared into quitting. I didn't put this much effort into surving to committ a slow suicide with them. For me, that was my driving force.
I hope you can come to a driving force too that will let you lay them down and know that you did EVERYTHING to give your body the best advantage to heal and beat the beast. If you won't let cancer kill you, why let cigaretts?
I know first hand that it is hard (ALL my family quit after my diagnosis!!) but I have faith in anyone that can go through this for cancer is absolutely able to quit smoking which pales in nature. Good luck and I will be here to encourage you!! Pammy

PS) You may have one side effect from quitting....it is VERY rare....happens to 1 in a million.....but have to warn you because you could be that 1....it is excesive body hair!!! However, it is not that bad...I think I look rather cute. Sorta like a monkey!! Don't you think?

aurora2009 said:

Kc
Your're not alone, how about we try and do this together. When I first found my lump (May 13th) I quit smoking using the patch for 4 weeks, as if this was going to change a future dx.

As soon as I came home on June 10th with my Dx I picked up a cigerette and started smoking again. At first I kept it under 5 a day only smoking lights, when I saw the surgeon on the 17th I was honest with her. She never said I had to quit or that it wouuld effect my future surgury date, but she said that she could perscibe me welebotrin, if I wanted and that it would help me quit. I took the perscription, read the SE and decided not to take it.

On my first surgury date I told her and she just shook her head and said, it would really be in my best interest if I quit. And I know she's right. I'm still smoking unfortunatly (and more often too) But I'm ready to give this another try,

The patch really works for me, it's my head that gives me trouble, along with all the stress, anxiety, waiting and every thing else that comes with this roller coaster ride we're on. I've smoked for many many years too, it's also part of who I am.

But I'm going to tackle this and it would be great to do it with some one who knows how hard it is, even with a cancer DX.

What do you say, you want to set a date?

Aurora

Well done!
I wish you both lots of luck. Good for you!

KC.......
I smoke and I have for 40 years. Not proud of it and I try quitting periodically, but I always end up smoking again.

My team also told me that smoking has nothing to do with bc, and my surgeon actually told me that if I was going to try quitting, not to do it until after my treatments were finished, because of the added stress. She said I would never be able to manage quitting at that time.

No, they won't do plastic surgery unless you have quit for 3 months, but they will do breast surgery & chemo..also rads.

Don't be ashamed KC, it is very difficult to kick the habit. I have tried countless times & have used everything from the patch to hypnosis.

Hugs,

CR

TCGgal said:

smoking
I quit the June 14th 2009, started chemo June 15 2009. I just stopped. Now, when I feel yucky, the thought of having a smoke just gags me.

I wish you luck. You can do it!

Good Luck
I've quit hundreds of times......

Finally gave up trying to quit.
Good luck to you all that are going to do it this time!
Hugs jxxxxxxxx

Kat11 said:

Not easy to quit, but it can
Not easy to quit, but it can be done. I am an non smoker 17 years now. My mom scared the hell out of me when she died from lung cancer and I was her caregiver and watched her suffer. Mom also had BC but would have been a suvivior of that. Lung was a new cancer. I did it through hypnosis. Worked for both me and my husband. Still and all you still have to have some will power. I used straws as a crutch and hard candy. My understanding there are drugs on the market to help you quit, talk to your doctor. Best of luck

Good luck to everyone
I just want to wish you the best of luck in quitting smoking. I know its hard to do under normal circumstances and with added strees in your life it makes it harder. I smoked when I was very young and I remember how it felt. I found that I just had to want it bad enough. No one quits until they feel ready. I hope you are all at that point now!

faithandprayer said:

Thank You
Thank you, thank you, thank you all for your support, understanding, success stories and, most importantly, for not judging me. Just getting it out there feels like I've shed some old, nasty, unbecoming skin. It's been weighing on me heavily and, as I lean to you more & more, it didn't make sense not to tell you what my biggest immediate struggle is.

Okay, aurora & IamHope, let's commit to doing this together.

MY QUIT DATE: Thursday, July 30.
Nothing significant about it. It's all strategic. I go for my next chemo round then & will have icky hours/days that follow so it just makes sense.

MY REWARD: A trip to Disney for my family (not to be booked until I have reached one year as a non-smoker)

MY PLAN: Prayer. Patch w/Gum & Nico Inhalers as needed.

MY MOTIVATION: My faith in my purpose here.

If no one minds, perhaps we can keep this thread alive as our checkpoint (while working to keep ourselves alive). ANYONE is welcome to join at any time...(tjhay, CR, tasha, Joe...and anyone else...if & when you become ready, there is strength in numbers!)

Happy Day!
KC

You will do it!! One day at
You will do it!! One day at a time.....best of luck and determination to you!!

ME Too!
I contacted the Maryland State Smoking hotline or whatever its called and set my quit date as August 3. They are sending me all kinds of information and a free 4 week patch therapy. My surgeon knew I smoked and did the surgery, but they did an albuterol treatment before they put me under. I have smoked for over 40 years, so this is going to be hard. Lets help each other! I haven't told anyone in my family yet, I want it to be a surprise. Good luck to you and me both!
Pat