have stage 111 and am still smoking HELP

soccerfreaks said:

I sympathize
Although I managed to quit twice, for a year each time, and both times going cold turkey, the only thing that has really worked for me is getting half of my tongue cut out. I doubt you want to go to that extreme (and I'm fairly certain that even THAT doesn't work for some people, as you, yourself, can attest to vis a vis the lung cancer dx ).

Some friends of mine swear by the Chantrix (or whatever...my spelling is certainly off). I think it is a prescription.

Personally, I just remind myself now what the smoking has done, and that all of the money I gave to the tobacco companies over the years was money spent so that they could kill me while spending my money on mansions and motorboats.

It really does boil down to you, though.

Good luck.

Take care,

Joe

I agree
I really wish there was a "magic" cure for the addiction as it is one of the hardest things I have tried to do. The next hardest thing was the treatments I had to undergo for something that was caused by this addiction.

I smoked for about 40 years and was up to 2 packs a day and the only thing that has helped me was reading that smoking while undergoing treatment decreases the effects of the treatment. Every time I think of a cigarette now I remind myself that they were the cause of both of my cancers. Both of my cancers are inoperable and I'll be damned if I will let cigarettes take away what precious time these treatments are buying me.

I agree with Joe, it's all up to you. I wish I could be of more help to you but it's a tough battle but you can win, just keep reminding yourself that cigarettes aren't going to help you win the battle with cancer.

Wishing you the best of luck.

Glenna

Hawking the patch again
Patricia,

At the risk of sounding like a broken record (as I've given this advice a couple of times here) or a patch pitchman - try using the Patch, whether Nicoderm or store brand, doesn't really matter. Once you make up your mind that you really need to quit, that's when it will work for you, giving you the nicotine without causing more lung damage. You may have a couple of false starts (as I did, a 2-pack/day smoker for 35 years), but give yourself kudos for trying and then go ahead and try again. Luck be with you!

patricia55 said:

dr used to suebanj
may I ask where you live I am in ohio and my dr won't talk operating because I smoked again he has NO tollerance for ciggarettes and has NO COMPASSION for the trials we go thru with this addition

Surgeon I used
Hi...I live in The Villages, Florida and that is where the surgeon is...He explained to me that there are many problems that could occur during the operation if I continued smoking....He wasn't going to take the responsibility if something happened to me during the operation that was due to my smoking.. Apparently it affects the blood. The day after he spoke to me I slapped a patch on and had it on for two weeks until the operation....Haven't had a cigarette now in 2 1/2 months....Having part of my lung removed is enough for me right now to not smoke....I hope it stays that way....It isn't easy, but it can be done...Good luck!

Yep I smoked for 52 years.
I still find myself thinking about having a smoke.
But it goes away fast. I quit lotsa times I guess when they told me quit or no surgery It made a difference.
They removed my left lung in 2006 .
I guess the ativan helped me quit but I was taking it so I could sleep but maybe it took the edge off I never thought about it until you posted your problem.
I chewed that nicotine gum and after the surgery I wasn't thinking about smoking to much so I guess that helped also.
Any way can't say I blame ya for smoking it is a B-tch to quit .
You could always lie to your Doctor an tell him ya quit . I didn't say that!!!
God bless ya an I hope it all works out for you what ever happens .
Greg
Maybe you could try some ativan at least you wouldn't care what people say about you smoking.
You could just say so what maybe tomorrow .

Quitting
I too have dealt with major addictions in the past and quite frankly right now today. It is a struggle from day to day to stop any bad habit formed and practiced.
There are three key elements to changing behaviors! From what I can understand,
!.Believe and trust that change will come. When you feel trapped in a bad situation you mustcontinue to talk to self and encourage self that there is hope, a way out of the bad position you are in. Change is a law of life, it will always happen.
2. Find a fan or sponsor, make friends with someone you know who can understand what you are up against, someone whos sees you as a person with the willingness to battle against your troubles, there are many who have put themselves to a challenge, fought the battle and won the victory, and most often, if you can find one of them, they are willing to share, encourage and simple give you the pep talk that might be the difference. One person having faith in you can make the difference and help you close the gap between where you are right now and where you want to be.
3. Take the time you need to overcome adversity, We are all guilty of underestimating how long it will take for us to change. When we're not transformed to a new me in a couple of weeks we tend to give up and give in to self! If you stay focused on the task of changing and try to be patient you will notice changes along the way, however small the change is do not neglect to reward yourself for making the small goal or mark. It is said that the urge to smoke 1 cigarette from the time it starts to the time it goes away is approximately 90 seconds to two minutes. When this urge comes on try to remain calm and realize what is happening, occupy yourself with something such as reading something interesting, writing in your journal, or here perhaps,chew candy, or a straw until a few minutes pass. Matter affects us, the mind controls us, so if you can learn to master controlling your mind, instead of it controlling you, you are well on the way to stopping any behaviors you don't like about you.
I reccomend that any of you who have it in your mind to change and are the least bit open minded for suggestion take a look at firstthirtydays.com, very good stuff there for someone wanting to change!
I hope that my long windedness is of some help to someone out there, because I too have things I am trying to change. I do want serenity and I want fullness of life experience, longevity and patience! Best of luck to those who want to make new and healthier habits in life. Life was never meant for us to try and destroy with self-destructive behaviors in the first place, that my friends is a human condition we probably all would like to change!
God Bless and good luck changing... Art

still smoking after KNOWING we have Lung Cancer
I quit 1 month before diagnosis ( I am 44 and thought I had Bronchitis) The studies that I have looked into say nicotine (patches, gum etc. INCREASE tumor growth, not necessarily causing cancer) After all of the research....Cold Turkey, again and again and again!
Good Luck and God Bless