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

pamela1204

Hello everyone and hope all is well for you!  I have been going through quite the struggle with all of this. I will breifly fill everyone in on me... I have Graves Disease, Lyme Disease and now Breast Cancer. My life has been filled with battle after battle but I remain positive and l hopeful. During all of this, I have been told by many drs. and friends / family, all of the things that I NEED to do as in, Stop eating certain foods, no gluten (for the Lyme) no sugar (lyme and cancer), and then no smoking. I do not have any other type of addictions, ie) drinking , drugs,,, but I do like my occasional cigarette with my coffee, (it's something that I enjoy to do). I have been so stressed out with my whole lifestyle change and feel like a "rebellious teen" lol, when I am told to not do something, it makes me want to do it even more. I'm 41yrs. old and have 2 children. I do not want to feel like everything is being taken away from me all at once.. I will be having a dbl. mastectomy (no date set yet) with delayed reconstruction using the enhancers . My plastic surgeon told me that, I NEED to quit smoking and if I don't he will "walk away". I will have the mastectomy, but he will not finish with the enhancers if I have even a trace of nicotine show up on the "test" he is going to do on me! My husband smokes, and the dr said that I have to leave the room or place that he is in also if I want to have my reconstruction. I feel so frustrated! I have been doing everything to try to cut down, and quit! Its a struggle and I have cheated pretty much everyday... I'm so scared that he is going to leave me high and dry on something that is part of me and how I will view myself daily, I was wondering if anyone else had their Plastic Surgeons refuse their surgery? What kind of nicotine tests are used? I have been through 5 eye surgeries for Graves Eye Disease and smoked through each surgery. I did not have necrosis from any of these surgeries. I know smoking is bad,,, but to be refused surgery because of it ,,, I feel is so unfair. Thanks for listening! Pam

telecomjd

Stop Smoking

Stop smoking.  Why would you increase your risk of recurrence or not healing well?  That just seems foolish.  Is it really worth it?

M

cinnamonsmile

Back when I was considering

Back when I was considering reconstruction, I had a consult with a plastic surgeon (I later decided against reconstruction unrelated to the nicotine issue). I don't smoke but my partner does. When we walked in, first thing she did was introduce herself, then ask which one of us smoked.I told her he does.She said very strernly that if there was ANY nicotine in my system that she would NOT do the reconstruction.I am allergic to cigarette smoke, so he had been and still smokes outside.For an FYI...Second hand smoke has about 2 times more nicotine than what is inhaled. 

So I would think if you want reconstruction you will have to quit smoking and he will not be able to smoke in the house or you would have to move out.

Here is info from the American Cancer Society:

At home

Making your home smoke-free may be one of the most important things you can do for the health of your family. Any family member can develop health problems related to SHS.

Children’s growing bodies are especially sensitive to the poisons in SHS. Asthma, lung infections, and ear infections are more common in children who are around smokers. Some of these problems can be serious and even life-threatening. Others may seem like small problems, but they add up quickly — the expenses, time for doctor visits, medicines, lost school time, and often lost work time for the parent who must stay home with a sick child.

Think about it: we spend more time at home than anywhere else. A smoke-free home protects your family, your guests, and even your pets.

Multi-unit housing where smoking is allowed is a special concern and a subject of research. Tobacco smoke can move through air ducts, wall and floor cracks, elevator shafts, and along crawl spaces to contaminate apartments on other floors, even those that are far from the smoke. SHS cannot be controlled with ventilation, air cleaning, or by separating smokers from non-smokers.

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/secondhand-smoke

If you can get it from living near smokers in an apt. building, it only stands to reason you can get nicotine in your system even if you are in another part of the  house when your husband is smoking.

Here are articles about wound healing and nicotine (which applies to surgery) healing and nicotine http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1323208 and http://www.livestrong.com/article/258602-smoking-incision-healing/.

Nothing about cancer is fair.I would think almost all of us has had to change something in our lives since we got cancer or any other catastrophic illness.

pamela1204

telecomjd said:

Stop Smoking

Stop smoking.  Why would you increase your risk of recurrence or not healing well?  That just seems foolish.  Is it really worth it?

M

Of course I want to heal

Of course I want to heal well, and I really wished it was easy to just stop smoking,,, I'm not foolish just extremely stressed, and was wondering how others that smoked, how they did and how soon did they have to be nicotine free for their surgeries.

pamela1204

cinnamonsmile said:

Back when I was considering

Back when I was considering reconstruction, I had a consult with a plastic surgeon (I later decided against reconstruction unrelated to the nicotine issue). I don't smoke but my partner does. When we walked in, first thing she did was introduce herself, then ask which one of us smoked.I told her he does.She said very strernly that if there was ANY nicotine in my system that she would NOT do the reconstruction.I am allergic to cigarette smoke, so he had been and still smokes outside.For an FYI...Second hand smoke has about 2 times more nicotine than what is inhaled. 

So I would think if you want reconstruction you will have to quit smoking and he will not be able to smoke in the house or you would have to move out.

Here is info from the American Cancer Society:

At home

Making your home smoke-free may be one of the most important things you can do for the health of your family. Any family member can develop health problems related to SHS.

Children’s growing bodies are especially sensitive to the poisons in SHS. Asthma, lung infections, and ear infections are more common in children who are around smokers. Some of these problems can be serious and even life-threatening. Others may seem like small problems, but they add up quickly — the expenses, time for doctor visits, medicines, lost school time, and often lost work time for the parent who must stay home with a sick child.

Think about it: we spend more time at home than anywhere else. A smoke-free home protects your family, your guests, and even your pets.

Multi-unit housing where smoking is allowed is a special concern and a subject of research. Tobacco smoke can move through air ducts, wall and floor cracks, elevator shafts, and along crawl spaces to contaminate apartments on other floors, even those that are far from the smoke. SHS cannot be controlled with ventilation, air cleaning, or by separating smokers from non-smokers.

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/secondhand-smoke

If you can get it from living near smokers in an apt. building, it only stands to reason you can get nicotine in your system even if you are in another part of the  house when your husband is smoking.

Here are articles about wound healing and nicotine (which applies to surgery) healing and nicotine http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1323208 and http://www.livestrong.com/article/258602-smoking-incision-healing/.

Nothing about cancer is fair.I would think almost all of us has had to change something in our lives since we got cancer or any other catastrophic illness.

My husband and I never smoke

My husband and I never smoke in our house especially because we have children. I could never ask him to move out nor would I move out during this difficult time. My problem with this is not so much the smoking but the fact that you can be denied surgery if you mess up... 

Angie2U

pamela1204 said:

Of course I want to heal

Of course I want to heal well, and I really wished it was easy to just stop smoking,,, I'm not foolish just extremely stressed, and was wondering how others that smoked, how they did and how soon did they have to be nicotine free for their surgeries.

I know it must be really hard

I know it must be really hard to quit and I hope that you do.  Most plastic surgeons will not operate on you if you smoke, unless it is an emergency.  You don't heal right when you smoke.  Have you tried the gum, the patches, asked for your doctor to try and help you?  I feel sorry for you as I know it must be hard.  I wish you the best of luck.

Hugs, Angie

pamela1204

Angie2U said:

I know it must be really hard

I know it must be really hard to quit and I hope that you do.  Most plastic surgeons will not operate on you if you smoke, unless it is an emergency.  You don't heal right when you smoke.  Have you tried the gum, the patches, asked for your doctor to try and help you?  I feel sorry for you as I know it must be hard.  I wish you the best of luck.

Hugs, Angie

Thank you for understanding ,

Thank you for understanding , that's the worst part of all of this,,no one understands how difficult it is when you are stressed. I'm sure everyone has a crutch when they're stressed, some people drink, some eat, and some smoke.. it's my crutch,,, I have the e cigarette that I've been trying to use and get used to, it's nicotine free and that's why I keep cheating with a real one,, when nicotine is out of my system I start to crave a real cigarette.  I'm really worried that even with my attempts but constant failures, my PS will just walk away and not help me. 

Heatherbelle

telecomjd said:

Stop Smoking

Stop smoking.  Why would you increase your risk of recurrence or not healing well?  That just seems foolish.  Is it really worth it?

M

dont judge her like that..

What she needs now is advice and support, not to be belittled and chastised. Quitting smoking is very hard. They say that nicotine is harder to quit than heroin even. I had been an on again/off again smoker for a long time when i was diagnosed. I quit cold turkey both times when we decided to try to get pregnant, and would go from not smoking at all, to smoking casually at social events or when i was having drinks at a bar or concert, etc. I never had a pack a day habit though. When i was diagnosed i was smoking about a pack a week, which isnt alot, but still, just giving up those last few was hard to do. I decided to have a double mastectomy and reconstruciton (cancer in right breast only, stage 2), and my first meeting with my plastic surgeon he told me no nicotine in my system at all (i was on nicotine patches at that time). It causes problem with healing. I found having suckers/lollipops and packs of gum with me at all times REALLY helped me through the cravings. And when you're done with reconstruction, if you really feel like you're going to go back to the habit, get an electronic cigarette. They still have nicotine but are vapor - no smoke, no carbon dioxide, no harmful smoke chemicals. Alot of my friends smoke e-cigarettes now instead of real ones. Im not promoting smoking or anything like that, before anyone goes and makes a big deal out of it - im just saying there is an alternative to smoking out there. I also stress that you shouldnt smoke the e-cigs or even use patches at any time doing reconstruction, and if you can go without smoking ANYthing, you should, we all know what's best. 

xoxo

heather

cinnamonsmile

pamela1204 said:

My husband and I never smoke

My husband and I never smoke in our house especially because we have children. I could never ask him to move out nor would I move out during this difficult time. My problem with this is not so much the smoking but the fact that you can be denied surgery if you mess up... 

There are healing issues if

There are healing issues if you smoke or inhale second hand smoke.It is NOT that the plastic surgeons are NOT doing the surgery because they just decided not to or for some insignificant reason.It is because of the physical complications that can occur.

Here are some of the complications due to nicotine that I was able to find:

Restricts blood flow and oxygen 

• • Poor and/or delayed wound healing
• • Increased risk of infection
• • Longer bruising period
• • Skin loss
• • Hypertrophic or keloid scarring
• • Increased risk of pulmonary problems
• • Flap necrosis (as with “flap” procedures) or tissue breakdown

I just assumed by your statement that you smoke in the house because you said you like a cig with your coffee and that you needed to move to a different room or place when he smokes.

And to be honest, your plastic surgeon said he/she said they will not operate if you have nicotine in your system. It is just a fact.

I used to smoke.I quit when I got pregnant, so I know about quitting smoking cold turkey. The smoking is the issue here, not the fact that you can be denied surgery.It is standard practice that  reconstruction can not be done with nicotine in the system. You are not the only one being told that.Your plastic surgeon is jus following standard protocls. I was just stating facts.

Rague

telecomjd said:

Stop Smoking

Stop smoking.  Why would you increase your risk of recurrence or not healing well?  That just seems foolish.  Is it really worth it?

M

!WOW!

She came here looking for the support she is in need of at this time!  She did not need your judgemental attack.  There are many ways you could have worded your thoughts without being so unfeeling.

Winyan -The Power Within

Susan

pamela1204

Heatherbelle said:

dont judge her like that..

What she needs now is advice and support, not to be belittled and chastised. Quitting smoking is very hard. They say that nicotine is harder to quit than heroin even. I had been an on again/off again smoker for a long time when i was diagnosed. I quit cold turkey both times when we decided to try to get pregnant, and would go from not smoking at all, to smoking casually at social events or when i was having drinks at a bar or concert, etc. I never had a pack a day habit though. When i was diagnosed i was smoking about a pack a week, which isnt alot, but still, just giving up those last few was hard to do. I decided to have a double mastectomy and reconstruciton (cancer in right breast only, stage 2), and my first meeting with my plastic surgeon he told me no nicotine in my system at all (i was on nicotine patches at that time). It causes problem with healing. I found having suckers/lollipops and packs of gum with me at all times REALLY helped me through the cravings. And when you're done with reconstruction, if you really feel like you're going to go back to the habit, get an electronic cigarette. They still have nicotine but are vapor - no smoke, no carbon dioxide, no harmful smoke chemicals. Alot of my friends smoke e-cigarettes now instead of real ones. Im not promoting smoking or anything like that, before anyone goes and makes a big deal out of it - im just saying there is an alternative to smoking out there. I also stress that you shouldnt smoke the e-cigs or even use patches at any time doing reconstruction, and if you can go without smoking ANYthing, you should, we all know what's best. 

xoxo

heather

Heather, Thank you so much! I

Heather, Thank you so much! I don't understand how being a smoker can upset so many people! I feel like I was made into a mass murderer or something LOL,, I smoke,,,, yes I know its bad,,,,, and your so right when you told people "dont judge",,, I have been using the E cigarette all day today, I have the pina colada flavored ( no nicotine and no tobacco). when I feel I need to actually light up, I have herbal cigarettes that are also no nicotine,,,, I still crave the nicotine though because I am still addicted to it,, with that said,, I am scared that I will continue to screw up and my plastic surgeon will not help me.... I'm trying, I really am, and what you wrote made me feel "supported" and not ridiculed!

 

pamela1204

Rague said:

!WOW!

She came here looking for the support she is in need of at this time!  She did not need your judgemental attack.  There are many ways you could have worded your thoughts without being so unfeeling.

Winyan -The Power Within

Susan

Thank you Susan! I wish this

Thank you Susan! I wish this was easier,,,,,, I went all day today with just using my E' cig,,, I keep going over and over again  in my head what my dr said so I am trying to get ready to get this cancer out of me.... I have been feeling so frustrated, still don't have a date yet! Thanks for your support

 

pamela1204

cinnamonsmile said:

There are healing issues if

There are healing issues if you smoke or inhale second hand smoke.It is NOT that the plastic surgeons are NOT doing the surgery because they just decided not to or for some insignificant reason.It is because of the physical complications that can occur.

Here are some of the complications due to nicotine that I was able to find:

Restricts blood flow and oxygen 

• • Poor and/or delayed wound healing
• • Increased risk of infection
• • Longer bruising period
• • Skin loss
• • Hypertrophic or keloid scarring
• • Increased risk of pulmonary problems
• • Flap necrosis (as with “flap” procedures) or tissue breakdown

I just assumed by your statement that you smoke in the house because you said you like a cig with your coffee and that you needed to move to a different room or place when he smokes.

And to be honest, your plastic surgeon said he/she said they will not operate if you have nicotine in your system. It is just a fact.

I used to smoke.I quit when I got pregnant, so I know about quitting smoking cold turkey. The smoking is the issue here, not the fact that you can be denied surgery.It is standard practice that  reconstruction can not be done with nicotine in the system. You are not the only one being told that.Your plastic surgeon is jus following standard protocls. I was just stating facts.

I know I am not the only one

I know I am not the only one being told that,, I have had 5 eye surgeries for Graves eye disease and had a plastic surgeon for that,, he did not refuse to work on me, he simply stated that it would be best for me to stop smoking. I cut down but didn't quit. I did not have necrosis. He didn't turn me away. My original post was basically to find out if I made mistakes (which I did) will I have enough time to get the nicotine out of my system before he schedules my surgery. I already know of the dangers and risk factors, and yadda yadda,,, I do not want to be lectured,, I smoke,,, I am having a hard time quitting and I just needed to find a place to come to and talk to others that may be in the same boat as me. Good thing everyone here are non smokers,, It looks like I'm disqualified

Patti1967

cinnamonsmile said:

There are healing issues if

There are healing issues if you smoke or inhale second hand smoke.It is NOT that the plastic surgeons are NOT doing the surgery because they just decided not to or for some insignificant reason.It is because of the physical complications that can occur.

Here are some of the complications due to nicotine that I was able to find:

Restricts blood flow and oxygen 

• • Poor and/or delayed wound healing
• • Increased risk of infection
• • Longer bruising period
• • Skin loss
• • Hypertrophic or keloid scarring
• • Increased risk of pulmonary problems
• • Flap necrosis (as with “flap” procedures) or tissue breakdown

I just assumed by your statement that you smoke in the house because you said you like a cig with your coffee and that you needed to move to a different room or place when he smokes.

And to be honest, your plastic surgeon said he/she said they will not operate if you have nicotine in your system. It is just a fact.

I used to smoke.I quit when I got pregnant, so I know about quitting smoking cold turkey. The smoking is the issue here, not the fact that you can be denied surgery.It is standard practice that  reconstruction can not be done with nicotine in the system. You are not the only one being told that.Your plastic surgeon is jus following standard protocls. I was just stating facts.

Well good luck with

Well good luck with quitting:) it is a really hard thing to do, I am a former smoker and quitting was hard hard hard even though I knew it was and is the best thing for me.  I haven't had the opportunity to even consider reconstruction yet, but all that I have been through the thought of smoking sure was tempting, okay not really doing it just the thought.  I get how hard it is, and I hope you are able to quit.  If it helps I smoked for years and then smoked only e-cigs, then nothing. 

I have been through and am going through hell and back with cancer but saying I quit smoking is something I am very proud of because I know how hard it was to do.  By the by, my hubby still smokes but not in our house and not in my car and not in his when I am in there. 

Good luck, you can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Patti

pamela1204

Patti1967 said:

Well good luck with

Well good luck with quitting:) it is a really hard thing to do, I am a former smoker and quitting was hard hard hard even though I knew it was and is the best thing for me.  I haven't had the opportunity to even consider reconstruction yet, but all that I have been through the thought of smoking sure was tempting, okay not really doing it just the thought.  I get how hard it is, and I hope you are able to quit.  If it helps I smoked for years and then smoked only e-cigs, then nothing. 

I have been through and am going through hell and back with cancer but saying I quit smoking is something I am very proud of because I know how hard it was to do.  By the by, my hubby still smokes but not in our house and not in my car and not in his when I am in there. 

Good luck, you can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Patti

Thank you Patti, I</b>
Thank you Patti, I appreciate that so much! I haven't had my mastectomy yet, just had a PET SCAN yesterday. I hate the waiting... I'm thinking why is it taking so long, I was dx'd April 25th with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. I want this out already... I kept hearing people tell me, well Pam, you need to quit "that" Yesterday,, or you need to stop "this" Yesterday,,,, Well, I want this cancer out of me.... Yesterday!!! Ya know what I'm saying.. Everyone has answers and opinions and I am stressing out Big Time, and everything that I have been used to for Oh let's see,,,,, My whole Life,,, has to change,,,, The way I eat,  the way I like to "relax", and pretty soon the way I look,, it's devastating, and I just need to feel accepted,, and my Plastic Surgeon made me feel like such a failure.... I know I can do it,, I just need a time limit, "kinda like a goal date",,,

cinnamonsmile

pamela1204 said:

Thank you Patti, I</b>
Thank you Patti, I appreciate that so much! I haven't had my mastectomy yet, just had a PET SCAN yesterday. I hate the waiting... I'm thinking why is it taking so long, I was dx'd April 25th with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. I want this out already... I kept hearing people tell me, well Pam, you need to quit "that" Yesterday,, or you need to stop "this" Yesterday,,,, Well, I want this cancer out of me.... Yesterday!!! Ya know what I'm saying.. Everyone has answers and opinions and I am stressing out Big Time, and everything that I have been used to for Oh let's see,,,,, My whole Life,,, has to change,,,, The way I eat,  the way I like to "relax", and pretty soon the way I look,, it's devastating, and I just need to feel accepted,, and my Plastic Surgeon made me feel like such a failure.... I know I can do it,, I just need a time limit, "kinda like a goal date",,,

I stated that I used to be a

I stated that I used to be a smoker. I quit in 1993 so I know what it is like to quit cold turkey.I was not and am not being judgemental. I was only matter of factly stating things. I was not getting into any emotional stuff. I was only helping with facts. If any judgemental tones were noted in my posts it is not meant to be judgemental by me, but interpreted to be that by the reader. The majority of time I post online i am just dry, matter of fact. Sometimes i am not, but mostly, yes.

pamela1204

cinnamonsmile said:

I stated that I used to be a

I stated that I used to be a smoker. I quit in 1993 so I know what it is like to quit cold turkey.I was not and am not being judgemental. I was only matter of factly stating things. I was not getting into any emotional stuff. I was only helping with facts. If any judgemental tones were noted in my posts it is not meant to be judgemental by me, but interpreted to be that by the reader. The majority of time I post online i am just dry, matter of fact. Sometimes i am not, but mostly, yes.

It takes alot to be able to

It takes alot to be able to quit cold turkey, so glad you were able to do it,, me , on the other hand, working at it.  My health has never been good. My body likes to attack itself, so I am very well aware of alot of risks that are out there. As far as what's the right thing to do,,, I know I have to do it,,, I had it playing in my mind over and over all day like a broken record,, "don't do it, don't do it! " It's been tough,, but I did it... It's 10:33 at night and no nicotine... I can only pray that I can stay away again tomorrow. Ive been on edge and very emotional, so yes it would be easy to take a written statement differently than person to person contact. I have been judged by my own "surroundings" ,, family, friends, drs,, so to say the least, it was the last thing I wanted to hear again,,..

pamela1204

cinnamonsmile said:

I stated that I used to be a

I stated that I used to be a smoker. I quit in 1993 so I know what it is like to quit cold turkey.I was not and am not being judgemental. I was only matter of factly stating things. I was not getting into any emotional stuff. I was only helping with facts. If any judgemental tones were noted in my posts it is not meant to be judgemental by me, but interpreted to be that by the reader. The majority of time I post online i am just dry, matter of fact. Sometimes i am not, but mostly, yes.

It takes alot to be able to

It takes alot to be able to quit cold turkey, so glad you were able to do it,, me , on the other hand, working at it.  My health has never been good. My body likes to attack itself, so I am very well aware of alot of risks that are out there. As far as what's the right thing to do,,, I know I have to do it,,, I had it playing in my mind over and over all day like a broken record,, "don't do it, don't do it! " It's been tough,, but I did it... It's 10:33 at night and no nicotine... I can only pray that I can stay away again tomorrow. Ive been on edge and very emotional, so yes it would be easy to take a written statement differently than person to person contact. I have been judged by my own "surroundings" ,, family, friends, drs,, so to say the least, it was the last thing I wanted to hear again,,..

breastcancer46

quitting

I hope you can quit. I too know how hard it is to quit smoking especially when it is something that you enjoy. I don't have to have reconstruction sugery, but you certainly have my support. The nicotine can be like our crack...I totally get it. People should not sit in judgement. Change all of your habits that revolve around your having that smoke and when you are going to have it, reach for that e-cig and take a walk or clean or take a shower, but don't keep the real ones around that way you won't reach for them. I know it's hard, I was a smoker for over 25 years. Good luck.

 

Josie21

Hi

I have never been a smoker, but I know that there are things I have been trying to quit since being diagnosed that I just can't do.  I know I should be eating better, but I keep reaching for the sweets and carbohydrates.  Why? Because I am addicted to them.  I think cigarettes are a  toxic subject on a cancer site, but I understand how hard it must be for you.  Maybe right now you can just concentrate on the initial surgery to remove the cancer and do the reconstruction when you are emotionally ready to quit smoking.  I do not advocate smoking, but maybe you need time to gradually cut down.  Being ordered to do something that you have been doing for years and years is difficult under the best of circumstances.  When I am stressed I eat worse, when you are stressed you probably smoke more.  All I am saying is you can't hold off having the mastectomies, but you can delay the reconstruction if you have to. I pray you won't have to do that, but it is an option.  Do you have to have chemo?  If not, then maybe after the mastectomies you can really try and focus on quitting after the enormous stress of being told you have breast cancer and being treated for breast cancer is over.  Good luck!  I know you can do it.  

And please don't think anyone is judging you, everyone just wants you to be well.  We are all in this together!!

Hugs,

Ginny

pamela1204

breastcancer46 said:

quitting

I hope you can quit. I too know how hard it is to quit smoking especially when it is something that you enjoy. I don't have to have reconstruction sugery, but you certainly have my support. The nicotine can be like our crack...I totally get it. People should not sit in judgement. Change all of your habits that revolve around your having that smoke and when you are going to have it, reach for that e-cig and take a walk or clean or take a shower, but don't keep the real ones around that way you won't reach for them. I know it's hard, I was a smoker for over 25 years. Good luck.

 

So far I have been up since

So far I have been up since 6:30 and no real cigarette. You are right,, I have to change the rest of my habits and routines. I NEED to do this and I will, Thank you for your support