Smoking

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karaokelorie
karaokelorie Member Posts: 33
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Has anyone who has had a mastectomy and reconstruction still smoke?
Anything happen?
Lorie
«1

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  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #2
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    Don't tell anyone .. BUT ...
    I smoked for years and years .. quit cold turkey about 20 years ago (after thyroid cancer). A few personal issues with our son, joined my husband and started to smoke again 2 to 3 years ago.

    I stopped several months ago, AGAIN. Just the right thing to do, wanted to get healthy. I purchased a pack of cig's .. right after getting dignosised with BC - on 8/14, and smoked a few. Stupid, yes. I HATE MYSELF...

    So many women, men and children suffering from this freakin disease, and here I am smoking a few cig's.

    I threw my pack out today .. (cause I saw the fear in my daughters eyes, when she caught me outside smoking, yesterday ) I told myself that was it!! I am now fighting withdrawls NOW..

    VickiSam
  • chickad52
    chickad52 Member Posts: 497
    #3
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    Not anymore
    No Lorie, I'm glad to say that I quit about 10 yrs ago! Diane :)
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #4
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    Don't smoke! Smoking causes
    Don't smoke! Smoking causes many cancers.
  • djteach
    djteach Member Posts: 273
    #5
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    Hi Lorie,
    Yes, I had a
    Hi Lorie,
    Yes, I had a mastectomy,but no reconstruction. Yes, I still smoke, but have cut way back.
    I have tried to quit so many times and I know that it has to come from me because I WANT to quit. I don't want to quit and until I do, I won't. I'm not an idiot, I know all of the health hazards of smoking and someday, it might hit me and I will quit. I don't want anyone to think less of me, except maybe, my intelligence. If there is anyway that you are ready to quit, please do it. You are brave to bring it up. I wish you all the best luck if you are trying to quit.

    Love and big hugs,
    Donna
  • karaokelorie
    karaokelorie Member Posts: 33
    #6
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    Eil4186 said:

    Don't smoke! Smoking causes
    Don't smoke! Smoking causes many cancers.

    smoking
    Thank you everyone for your comments. I am going to quit again (quit once before for 2 years) I am on wellbutrin to help with stop smoking. Last time I quit I used zyban,so hopefully this works just as well.Sept 4 will be my first day of not smoking, I thought my 55th birthday would be a great day to start.My son Taylor 15yrs old and I will be going to disneyland also that day.Wish me luck . I really need to quit, I,ve been smoking since I,ve been 12.
    Lorie
  • karaokelorie
    karaokelorie Member Posts: 33
    #7
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    djteach said:

    Hi Lorie,
    Yes, I had a
    Hi Lorie,
    Yes, I had a mastectomy,but no reconstruction. Yes, I still smoke, but have cut way back.
    I have tried to quit so many times and I know that it has to come from me because I WANT to quit. I don't want to quit and until I do, I won't. I'm not an idiot, I know all of the health hazards of smoking and someday, it might hit me and I will quit. I don't want anyone to think less of me, except maybe, my intelligence. If there is anyway that you are ready to quit, please do it. You are brave to bring it up. I wish you all the best luck if you are trying to quit.

    Love and big hugs,
    Donna

    smoking
    Thank you Donna, I'm going to try. Maybe one of these days youll be ready to try also. They say the more times we try to quit the more we are likely to stay quit one of those times(or something like that).
    Take Care
    Lorie
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #8
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    I quit years ago and glad
    I quit years ago and glad that I did. I know it is hard, but, you can do it. You are fighting breast cancer, you don't want lung cancer too. And, most plastic surgeons won't do reconstruction on a smoker. They usually ask that they quit at least 3 months before. Have you asked your plastic surgeon? That might give you the incentive to quit. Good luck!
  • karaokelorie
    karaokelorie Member Posts: 33
    #9
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    survivorbc09 said:

    I quit years ago and glad
    I quit years ago and glad that I did. I know it is hard, but, you can do it. You are fighting breast cancer, you don't want lung cancer too. And, most plastic surgeons won't do reconstruction on a smoker. They usually ask that they quit at least 3 months before. Have you asked your plastic surgeon? That might give you the incentive to quit. Good luck!

    When I say my plastic surgen
    When I say my plastic surgen he said he required 6 wks of not smoking. I knew then if I quit for 6 wks why not quit for good right?
  • chickad52
    chickad52 Member Posts: 497
    #10
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    djteach said:

    Hi Lorie,
    Yes, I had a
    Hi Lorie,
    Yes, I had a mastectomy,but no reconstruction. Yes, I still smoke, but have cut way back.
    I have tried to quit so many times and I know that it has to come from me because I WANT to quit. I don't want to quit and until I do, I won't. I'm not an idiot, I know all of the health hazards of smoking and someday, it might hit me and I will quit. I don't want anyone to think less of me, except maybe, my intelligence. If there is anyway that you are ready to quit, please do it. You are brave to bring it up. I wish you all the best luck if you are trying to quit.

    Love and big hugs,
    Donna

    Donna
    Nobody thinks less of you. I have been there and it's a hard thing to do! Hugs, Diane:)
  • KAF
    KAF Member Posts: 16
    #11
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    karaokelorie said:

    When I say my plastic surgen
    When I say my plastic surgen he said he required 6 wks of not smoking. I knew then if I quit for 6 wks why not quit for good right?

    Wow
    what a subject to bring up on a cancer site. Yes, I'm a bad girl for still smoking. I always said, if I ever got cancer I would quit, well I'm still smoking. For anyone that has never lit up, it is a very hard habit to break. Espically when you have alot on your plate. I'm fighting two battles, smoking and weight, and their both hard to keep under control. I guess the cancer didn't scare me enough to quit smoking.
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #12
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    KAF said:

    Wow
    what a subject to bring up on a cancer site. Yes, I'm a bad girl for still smoking. I always said, if I ever got cancer I would quit, well I'm still smoking. For anyone that has never lit up, it is a very hard habit to break. Espically when you have alot on your plate. I'm fighting two battles, smoking and weight, and their both hard to keep under control. I guess the cancer didn't scare me enough to quit smoking.

    Good luck in quitting
    I hope you can all quit smoking. I have seen someone with lung cancer and it is sad. Don't trade one cancer for another. Please try all that you can to quit. I wish you all success in quitting!

    ♥ Kylez ♥
  • mgm42
    mgm42 Member Posts: 491 Member
    #13
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    I did....
    I smoked for about 35 years and quit about 10 years ago. I'm still tempted to "bum" one occasionally, but I know if I do, I won't be able to quit with just one cigarette.

    I was a nervous smoker. Lighting up was my way of giving myself permission to relax, take a break, collect my thoughts, calm down or procrastinate. When I decided to quit, I used the patch for about one week, then went without and that was that! So, it wasn't cold turkey. Good luck with quitting. I think it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. But, I'm glad that I did it.

    Hang in there. Hugs, Marilynn
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #14
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    You can do it!!
    It is amazing to be discussing smoking on a cancer website but I know from experience that there are a lot of us that either do smoke or have smoked. Sometimes I wonder if that is what has gotten us here. I quit about 2 months ago shortly after my diagnosis. I have wanted to quit for years but it did take someone telling me I had cancer and a "risk" factor of my cancer was smoking. I decided to also enjoy my 55th birthday and quit the next day. I used a patch for a week but then had my lumpectomy and couldn't wear the patch that day, so I didn't and haven't had to wear it since. I honestly wanted to give myself the best possible chance at beating this disease and I thought by not putting more carcinogens into my body, that would greatly help. I am doing great at not smoking and can honestly say that it is definately mind over matter. You can do it too!!!
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #15
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    MyTurnNow said:

    You can do it!!
    It is amazing to be discussing smoking on a cancer website but I know from experience that there are a lot of us that either do smoke or have smoked. Sometimes I wonder if that is what has gotten us here. I quit about 2 months ago shortly after my diagnosis. I have wanted to quit for years but it did take someone telling me I had cancer and a "risk" factor of my cancer was smoking. I decided to also enjoy my 55th birthday and quit the next day. I used a patch for a week but then had my lumpectomy and couldn't wear the patch that day, so I didn't and haven't had to wear it since. I honestly wanted to give myself the best possible chance at beating this disease and I thought by not putting more carcinogens into my body, that would greatly help. I am doing great at not smoking and can honestly say that it is definately mind over matter. You can do it too!!!

    Please stop smoking
    I hope that all of you that smoke will quit soon. There are a lot of drugs out there now to help you, the patch, or, just plain cold turkey. Why risk getting lung cancer? You fight so hard to be rid of bc, don't invite another one. Wishing you all good luck!

    Lex♥
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #16
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    I quit too
    I guit when I was diagnosed 3 months ago. I smoked 35 years and decided there was no sense in going through ANY treatment if I was going to continue to smoke. So I quit, cold turkey. Knew that after 72 hours, all nicotine in my system would be gone and the rest was just habit. Besides, still have my eye on a new sofa and my smoke money now goes to my home interior fund!! I'm not even close.....but I will get it!! It's my goal! You can do it, Lorie. This will be cookie crumbs compared to fighting the beast!! ♥ Pammy
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #17
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    Akiss4me said:

    I quit too
    I guit when I was diagnosed 3 months ago. I smoked 35 years and decided there was no sense in going through ANY treatment if I was going to continue to smoke. So I quit, cold turkey. Knew that after 72 hours, all nicotine in my system would be gone and the rest was just habit. Besides, still have my eye on a new sofa and my smoke money now goes to my home interior fund!! I'm not even close.....but I will get it!! It's my goal! You can do it, Lorie. This will be cookie crumbs compared to fighting the beast!! ♥ Pammy

    I agree it's very hard to
    I agree it's very hard to quit smoking. I was a 2 pack a day smoker when I quit. And yes I did have a lot of stress in my life, like watching my Mother die of lung cancer. Well ladies, that did it for me and my husband, but lord knows it was not an easy thing to do. Good luck to all who are trying to quit and good luck to all who want to quit.
  • Cat64
    Cat64 Member Posts: 1,192
    #18
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    karaokelorie said:

    smoking
    Thank you everyone for your comments. I am going to quit again (quit once before for 2 years) I am on wellbutrin to help with stop smoking. Last time I quit I used zyban,so hopefully this works just as well.Sept 4 will be my first day of not smoking, I thought my 55th birthday would be a great day to start.My son Taylor 15yrs old and I will be going to disneyland also that day.Wish me luck . I really need to quit, I,ve been smoking since I,ve been 12.
    Lorie

    Smoking
    What a great way to celebrate your bday! It's a hard habit to break for sure! I've smoked for 28 years now. My hubby was a 2+/pk/day smoker, he started to lose his voice, found out he has cysts on his vocal cords, they told him to quit at least a month b/4 they would do surgery. He used Chantix for a month and has been smoke free for 2-1/2 months now. (surgery the 11th) I know the patches, gum, and drugs help, but it is still MIND over Matter! Try to keep your mind and hands occupied on other things. Before my diagnosis, I kept hearing this "little voice" over my shoulder that told me to change my lifestyle...I ignored it. Then I received the news that I had the "Beast". Now, there's no choice. I intend to quit smoking, change my junk-food diet, gain weight, and attend to my body the way I should of been all along. Think about it, how could smoking actually help through this process? If anything, I would think it would make you feel crappier and lower the effectiveness of all the treatments, not to mention as others have said-increase your risk of other cancers. No thank you! Won't trade one for the other. I wish you all the luck in the world on your battles. Please let us know how your progressing!
    Prayers & Hugz
    Cathy
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #19
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    Kat11 said:

    I agree it's very hard to
    I agree it's very hard to quit smoking. I was a 2 pack a day smoker when I quit. And yes I did have a lot of stress in my life, like watching my Mother die of lung cancer. Well ladies, that did it for me and my husband, but lord knows it was not an easy thing to do. Good luck to all who are trying to quit and good luck to all who want to quit.

    Good luck to you!
    It is hard to quit smoking, but, with having one cancer now, why risk getting lung cancer? I wish all of you that are trying to quit the best of luck! You can do it. It won't be easy, but, you can. Do it for yourself and for your loved ones.

    Hugs, Diane ♥
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #20
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    DianeBC said:

    Good luck to you!
    It is hard to quit smoking, but, with having one cancer now, why risk getting lung cancer? I wish all of you that are trying to quit the best of luck! You can do it. It won't be easy, but, you can. Do it for yourself and for your loved ones.

    Hugs, Diane ♥

    smoking
    My plastic surgeon asks specifically if you smoke, does not like to do surgery on people who do-poor wound healing etc... bad for you during surgery breathing tubes etc... also read years ago a study (may have been refuted by now) that smoking may increase chances of BC recurrennce. It is hard to quit in the middle of a crisis but if you can try to wean yourelf awya from it to be as healthy as possible!!!
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #21
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    mgm42 said:

    I did....
    I smoked for about 35 years and quit about 10 years ago. I'm still tempted to "bum" one occasionally, but I know if I do, I won't be able to quit with just one cigarette.

    I was a nervous smoker. Lighting up was my way of giving myself permission to relax, take a break, collect my thoughts, calm down or procrastinate. When I decided to quit, I used the patch for about one week, then went without and that was that! So, it wasn't cold turkey. Good luck with quitting. I think it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. But, I'm glad that I did it.

    Hang in there. Hugs, Marilynn

    Congrats to all of you that
    Congrats to all of you that have quit and Good Luck to all of you that are trying. You can do it!

    ♠♣ Susie ♠♣

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