Hello, I'm new here and have a question regarding reconstruction and smoking

13

Comments

  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member

    My mother and father had many

    My mother and father had many siblings each came from families of around 12.  It was VERY fashionable to smoke then and from a very young age.  They thought it looked sophisticated like famous film stars did and heavens knows after The Second World War it was good just to be alive ( I am English) Life was very hard then.  Priorities were much different.  More is known now of course but that doesn't make it easier.  Nothing does.  All of us cousins and there are a multitude of us grew up in smoke filled homes, most of us didnt end up smoking thank goodness.  Nearly everyone of my aunts and uncles have now passed and I believe I can safely say all were taken at least 10 to 20 years early due to smoking related illness.  I know how horribly hard it is to stop.  My mum smoked till the day she died from lung cancer after three bouts of breast cancer, she needed oxygen and inhalers for years before hand.  Her choice, I think our health has suffered from those years of their heavy smoking but not bitter because no one is perfect, certainly not me.  I would like to think if they had known the dangers back then they would not have smoked for the sake of their health and the children but it really was a different time.  Food on the table was the biggest priority and keeping a job, head above water.  My thing is, how could any one every have thought it wouldn't hartm your insides it is just common sense.  These days the young do it because  a certain percentage always rebell, young people don't think about illness or premature death, or Life Insurance etc.  I still miss my parents, uncles and aunties sooooo much. 

     

    Try every avenue to stop if you can, hard as it is.  I had no idea smoking interfered with healing from breast cancer treatments, just never thought about it and never came up as never a smoker.  I would try the hypnosis heard some good outcomes from that.  Good luck.  One thing though I know very few people who smoke now but the few I do are declining in their sixties especially with respiratory problems.  The worst and painful death of a relative was a dear uncle who caught throat cancer, not pleasant for him or his children carers.

     

    You have had three major illnesses, this last breast cancer diagnosis though still ongoing, your body is telling you to get healthy like now, asap.  Kind of like warnings.  Keep looking for help.

     

    Good luck.

    Adding my big congrats on

    Adding my big congrats on quitting!

  • pamela1204
    pamela1204 Member Posts: 18
    6 full days smoke free and have surgery date finally

    The Lord works in mysterious ways!! He knew I was struggling, I prayed and prayed to help me get through this difficult time. I used the E-cigarette since April 26th day after I was dx'd. I continued to have real cigarettes in between during stressfull times. I knew I needed to quit. I knew the time was getting closer to a possible surgery date. Yesterday marked day 5 no smoking and I  got the call from my surgeon's office for my pre-op June3rd, and mastectomy on June 6th. I'm hoping I quit in enough time! It was meant to be that I stuck to it! I still can't believe I did it! I craved one all day yesterday, but I refused to mess up everything I worked so hard for, I have come this far. Please someone tell me if I quit in enough time. By pre-op date, it will be 12 days and by surgery date it will be 2 weeks!! Thank you all for such encouraging words! I definately needed support during this and feeling the love has helped tremendously! Next week !! It can't get here fast enough! Thanks again :)

  • pamela1204
    pamela1204 Member Posts: 18

    I understand. I have smoked

    I understand. I have smoked for 30 years and was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of last year. I have completed my treatments but am still suffering the after effects. Yes I too got many lectures on the dangers and complications of smoking during my surgery and treatments. I remember the extreme anxiety, fear, confusion ect that I felt when I got the news and still feel to this day, having said that, I cant imagine a worse time to take on quitting smoking. It's an addiction thats so much stronger when we are under stress and at our weakest. I didnt quit or even try then, but I have taken steps to conquer it once and for all now. I tried the gum and hated it so I got the Step 1 patches. They really do reduce your cravings. I still have them now and then, and I have cheated now and then, but its getting better. It's been 2 months and I'm stepping down to phase 2 patches and I havent cheated in days. Its a process, and more than patches are needed. Talk, meditate, got for a walk, buy some sugar free candy, whatever u have to do to get u through because its not going to be easy I know. Get the patches, the nicotine wont hurt u, its the other many many dangerous chemicals they are putting in our smokes thats killing us. They are not perfect and wont be a cure all, but they do help calm the cravings. Take care and god bless. U wont succeed at this if its just because others want u too, u will only have a chance when u really want to.

    I'm so sorry, I missed this post but thank you

    I appreciate you taking the time and writing your experience to share with me! I am so grateful to everyone here that has helped me. Thank you! :)

  • pamela1204
    pamela1204 Member Posts: 18

    :) im glad you felt

    :) im glad you felt supported, Pamela! That shows that i did exactly what i set out to do, then! 

    Id like to think that the person who wrote that judgemental post to you was, in her eyes, just wanting the best for you, but went about it in a judgemental way. 

    Regardless, we are all in the same boat here, affected by this craptaculous breast cancer. This site provides opportunity to support one another and thats what i love about it! I got lots of support when i was first diagnosed and i like to come back here and check on everyone and lend some support and experience when i can. I've read your updates & am glad to see that youre sticking to the not smoking! It's hard work, but you just gotta get through one craving at a time!

    xoxo

    heather

    Heather------- YOU ROCK!!

    Heather------- YOU ROCK!! Thank you and I am still smoke free,,, yippee! :)

  • June Bugs
    June Bugs Member Posts: 167

    Thank you to everyone that

    Thank you to everyone that commented,, I have been smoke free for 5 full days!!! I did it! 

    Pamela, congrats on stopping

    Pamela, congrats on stopping smoking.  It had to be so hard for you and you did it, you stopped!  Good luck with your surgery!

     

  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    coco2008 said:

    AWESOME NEWS

    I am delighted for you.  That is reallllly great news.  I don't really know you, but I am so proud of you.  Congrats.

     

    Sandy

    Proud of you too!  Hang in

    Proud of you too!  Hang in there!

    Hugs, Jan

  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598

    6 full days smoke free and have surgery date finally

    The Lord works in mysterious ways!! He knew I was struggling, I prayed and prayed to help me get through this difficult time. I used the E-cigarette since April 26th day after I was dx'd. I continued to have real cigarettes in between during stressfull times. I knew I needed to quit. I knew the time was getting closer to a possible surgery date. Yesterday marked day 5 no smoking and I  got the call from my surgeon's office for my pre-op June3rd, and mastectomy on June 6th. I'm hoping I quit in enough time! It was meant to be that I stuck to it! I still can't believe I did it! I craved one all day yesterday, but I refused to mess up everything I worked so hard for, I have come this far. Please someone tell me if I quit in enough time. By pre-op date, it will be 12 days and by surgery date it will be 2 weeks!! Thank you all for such encouraging words! I definately needed support during this and feeling the love has helped tremendously! Next week !! It can't get here fast enough! Thanks again :)

    I need to say congrats to you

    I need to say congrats to you first!  WTG Pamela!  As far as I know, yes, you've quit far enough ahead.  So WTG again!

    Lex

  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991

    Thank you to everyone that

    Thank you to everyone that commented,, I have been smoke free for 5 full days!!! I did it! 

    Congrats Pamela!!!!!

    Congrats Pamela!!!!!

  • pamela1204
    pamela1204 Member Posts: 18
    Alexis F said:

    I need to say congrats to you

    I need to say congrats to you first!  WTG Pamela!  As far as I know, yes, you've quit far enough ahead.  So WTG again!

    Lex

    Thank You

    Thank You so much!!!  And thanks for answering my question,, lol,,, It has been 7 days!! Yay!!! Stress test done today, did well... ready for pre-op on Monday,,,, then.... the surgery on Thursday. Had alot of breakdown moments last night,,, not sure why, just cried alot about everything..... better today!!

  • Josie21
    Josie21 Member Posts: 382 Member

    Thank You

    Thank You so much!!!  And thanks for answering my question,, lol,,, It has been 7 days!! Yay!!! Stress test done today, did well... ready for pre-op on Monday,,,, then.... the surgery on Thursday. Had alot of breakdown moments last night,,, not sure why, just cried alot about everything..... better today!!

    Hi

    Breakdown moments are normal and I think they are good for you. You have so much on your plate right now including stopping smoking.  You are doing great and I wish I could give you a pat on the back and a big hug for quitting.  Great job!!  If you can do that, you are a fighter and being a fighter is what gets you through breast cancer treatments.  You go girl!!

    Hugs, 

    Ginny

  • coco2008
    coco2008 Member Posts: 418
    Josie21 said:

    Hi

    Breakdown moments are normal and I think they are good for you. You have so much on your plate right now including stopping smoking.  You are doing great and I wish I could give you a pat on the back and a big hug for quitting.  Great job!!  If you can do that, you are a fighter and being a fighter is what gets you through breast cancer treatments.  You go girl!!

    Hugs, 

    Ginny

    Will be praying

    You are doing great with not smoking.  When I quit I replaced cigs with deep breaths and jelly bellies. The jelly bellies are my favorite part.

    I will be praying for you now and on Thursday.

    Keep us informed about your surgery and treatments and anything else you need prayer about.

  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member

    Thank You

    Thank You so much!!!  And thanks for answering my question,, lol,,, It has been 7 days!! Yay!!! Stress test done today, did well... ready for pre-op on Monday,,,, then.... the surgery on Thursday. Had alot of breakdown moments last night,,, not sure why, just cried alot about everything..... better today!!

    This is so huge! 

    This is so huge!  Congrats!

    Sue :)

  • taylor manny
    taylor manny Member Posts: 113

    My mother and father had many

    My mother and father had many siblings each came from families of around 12.  It was VERY fashionable to smoke then and from a very young age.  They thought it looked sophisticated like famous film stars did and heavens knows after The Second World War it was good just to be alive ( I am English) Life was very hard then.  Priorities were much different.  More is known now of course but that doesn't make it easier.  Nothing does.  All of us cousins and there are a multitude of us grew up in smoke filled homes, most of us didnt end up smoking thank goodness.  Nearly everyone of my aunts and uncles have now passed and I believe I can safely say all were taken at least 10 to 20 years early due to smoking related illness.  I know how horribly hard it is to stop.  My mum smoked till the day she died from lung cancer after three bouts of breast cancer, she needed oxygen and inhalers for years before hand.  Her choice, I think our health has suffered from those years of their heavy smoking but not bitter because no one is perfect, certainly not me.  I would like to think if they had known the dangers back then they would not have smoked for the sake of their health and the children but it really was a different time.  Food on the table was the biggest priority and keeping a job, head above water.  My thing is, how could any one every have thought it wouldn't hartm your insides it is just common sense.  These days the young do it because  a certain percentage always rebell, young people don't think about illness or premature death, or Life Insurance etc.  I still miss my parents, uncles and aunties sooooo much. 

     

    Try every avenue to stop if you can, hard as it is.  I had no idea smoking interfered with healing from breast cancer treatments, just never thought about it and never came up as never a smoker.  I would try the hypnosis heard some good outcomes from that.  Good luck.  One thing though I know very few people who smoke now but the few I do are declining in their sixties especially with respiratory problems.  The worst and painful death of a relative was a dear uncle who caught throat cancer, not pleasant for him or his children carers.

     

    You have had three major illnesses, this last breast cancer diagnosis though still ongoing, your body is telling you to get healthy like now, asap.  Kind of like warnings.  Keep looking for help.

     

    Good luck.

    I quit smoking years ago cold

    I quit smoking years ago cold turkey and it was the hardest thing I think I'd ever done,  up until my diagnosis.  Congratulations for stopping too.  I really felt better afterwords and I bet you will too eventually.

  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member

    Thank You

    Thank You so much!!!  And thanks for answering my question,, lol,,, It has been 7 days!! Yay!!! Stress test done today, did well... ready for pre-op on Monday,,,, then.... the surgery on Thursday. Had alot of breakdown moments last night,,, not sure why, just cried alot about everything..... better today!!

    7 days is fantastic Pamela! 

    7 days is fantastic Pamela!  Congrats!  Hope you're feeling better today.  Keep posting any update for us.

    Hugs, Kylez

  • taylor manny
    taylor manny Member Posts: 113

    I'm so sorry, I missed this post but thank you

    I appreciate you taking the time and writing your experience to share with me! I am so grateful to everyone here that has helped me. Thank you! :)

    You should pat yourself on

    You should pat yourself on the back for quitting like this.  It's great!  Congrats!

  • JJDS
    JJDS Member Posts: 258

    Thank You

    Thank You so much!!!  And thanks for answering my question,, lol,,, It has been 7 days!! Yay!!! Stress test done today, did well... ready for pre-op on Monday,,,, then.... the surgery on Thursday. Had alot of breakdown moments last night,,, not sure why, just cried alot about everything..... better today!!

    Good luck with your

    Good luck with your mastectomy next Thursday.  Once again, congrats on quitting smoking!

    JJ

  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    JJDS said:

    Good luck with your

    Good luck with your mastectomy next Thursday.  Once again, congrats on quitting smoking!

    JJ

    Wishing you good luck with

    Wishing you good luck with your pre op appt. and your surgery Thursday.  Post any update when you can.

    Hugs, Lex

  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    congrats and the best of luck

    congrats and the best of luck with your surgery!

  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    DebbyM said:

    congrats and the best of luck

    congrats and the best of luck with your surgery!

    Quitting smoking, so proud of

    Quitting smoking, so proud of you!  Praying for a successful surgery and a quick recovery.

  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    Kristin N said:

    Quitting smoking, so proud of

    Quitting smoking, so proud of you!  Praying for a successful surgery and a quick recovery.

    Praying that you got through

    Praying that you got through the surgery just fine and are recovering comfortably.  Post any update for us when you can.

    Hugs, Megan