Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Welcome to all the new comers. I have been struggling to stay quit but have been smoke free since the 18th of Jan. I have been keeping myself busy but it is so difficult at home with 4 smokers in the home. I went for 5.5 mile hikes yesterday and today and feel great and do not think about cigarettes at all then. I really love getting out into the wilderness and just hiking. Our weather has been fantastic the past week here in CA. I wish the rest of you could have some of our sunshine as I know many of you are in deep freezes. My stage 2 surgery will be next Monday and I know I have to stay away from cigarettes. It is just so damn hard this time with work overload and family situations that are out of my control. I quess that is when the Serenity Prayer comes in to play. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change and the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. This use to help me to quit drinking and using drugs so I know if I use it it will help me with staying quit,
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Dutchy: Hang in there. It's got to be tough living with other smokers. I didn't have that, thank goodness. Remember, you are powerless over tobacco; one is too many and a hundred are not enough. Just don't pick up that first one.
I had a dream last night that I was back in college and I stood right in the middle of the classroom and lit up a cig! Then I went outside to the water fountain and the man in front of me turned around and said "you smell like smoke." Weird ...
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Dutchy"
You are doing great!!! Just hang on. I know it must be hard with other smokers around but keep on hiking, post often. We are all here for you.
I can't believe your surgery is next Monday...boy that really did go fast even with the delay.
I'll be praying for a smooth surgery and a quick recovery!!
Lady:
I hate those cigarette dreams. I haven't had one in awhile but they are weird.
Jan
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UUUUGGHHHHHH!
For the love of God will someone make those stupid survey pop-ups STOP!!! Better today than it was Friday but, "No, Thanks" means "No, Thanks"!!! QUIT asking!!!
Whew.... Feel much better now!
YEAH annettek!!
Glad you have found Allen Carr's book to be helpful. I know it really helped me to get in the right frame of mind (so important) where I finally thought after 30+ years, I can DO THIS!!
It is NOT a magic bullet though! I think it's REAL value is in getting the motivation there to quit AND making one think about "the beast" in a whole different way (a way I know I had not thought about it before)! I did read and re-read both sections of his book and the posts here many times in the beginning!
He doesn't offer much in the way of "how" to quit though! That's where another program or tool is useful. I had an old quit smoking program (I want to say smoke stoppers?) that was given to me (and all who smoked) years ago by my employer at the time (and of course went directly into the "drawer". The one where NOTHING ever comes out of..lol) I dug that out and it helped alot with the "how" to quit smoking. VJ's work book would serve the same purpose for you!
So much of quitting depends on motivation and having the right set of tools to be successful!!!
Setting a quit date is a MAJOR first step!!!
I have every confidence that you can do this!! Absolutely, lean on the ladies here. They have ALL been where you are now!!!
We're pulling for you!!
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ok Annette:
We are a tough bunch of cookies so we can talk you off the ledge when you need it!
Jan
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((((((Dutchy))))),
Probably each individual thing on it's own wouldn't be as bad but when you add them all up.... Well, it's more than many could take. I so WISH you didn't have to deal with so much all at the same time!
I had a little glimpse into what having people smoking around me in the house felt like when my in-laws were here for the holidays and it DID get a bit dicey at times...
For now... Think about how great it will be when your reconstuction is done! Picture how super the results will be (Would you expect anything less than perfection from your doc that you fought soooo hard to go to??)
Keep your eye on the prize, my friend!! You can do this!
Jennifer
PS: a bit of your nice weather sent this way would be MUCH appreciated!
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Ok Ladies:
A while back we did a roll call of all of our quit dates (back on page 123)...
We have so many new names here (YEAH!!) that I think it may be time to update the list. I am going to go ahead and update it anyway with Dutchy's new quit within the next couple of days.
If any of the newer people would like to have your name added, please post with your quit date. If anyone was on the previous list and would like to be removed, please let me know (post or PM).
I think it is really helpful in keeping track of us all and giving people an introduction to others that may be in the same time-frame and going through the same difficulties!
Have a great night all!!
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Jan,
I think you are getting close to being at the end of your fills... Any idea on when your exchange will take place?
Jennifer
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Quit date was1/16/11. One week not smoking, I truly didn't think I could do it, but I did. Even my friends are amazed, my grandkids are so happy. When it gets bad, I use the straws I cut to cigarette length and chew on tthem. It definitely is an oral fixation. Good luck to all of us newbies and thank you's for our coaches. It sure was nice filling in the new onc.'s health report as a non-smoker. Karen
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karen333,
I will add you to the list!
And.... now that I see your quit date.... HAPPY 1 WEEK smoke free!!!
Keep GOING!!! You are doing so well!!!!
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Jennifer:
I have a fill on Thursday this week and I think it may be my last. I'll know then.I think they are planning an exchange for March
Yeah!!!
Jan
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Jan,
I am sure you will be Soooo happy to have that behind you! March will be here before we know it....
I don't know about anyone else but, the older I get the faster time seems to pass! Sometimes a good thing... sometimes not!
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Yes, I cannot wait and March will be here before we know it.
Time has gone by quickly, just think I was DX almost 6 mos ago!! In that time I've had surgery, fills and quit smoking...Whew!!!
Jan
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Jan,
I know, it's really hard to believe all that has happened! I am coming up on 2 years since my diagnosis (that alone seems surreal) and all those follow up appointments that come with it. Not looking forward to those but I know it comes with the turf!!
Hoping that all goes well for each of us!!!
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Yes Jennifer:
I hope we will be doing well - it looks like we have the same DX
Jan
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Jan,
Yes, we do....
Us ILC gals are a bit of a rare breed! ILC tends to be a sneaky critter... I think I felt mine at least 6 months before I did something about it because it really didn't fit the text-book definition of a lump. I kept thinking something didn't feel quite right but it wasn't a lump! So I talked myself out of the fact that it needed attention. Finally, it finally formed a lump and that's when I took action!
I have talked to my daughter about it. She will require screening 10 years earlier than the age I was diagnosed. She's not thrilled but KNOWS she must do it!!
Here's to, knowledge is power! Just wish I (we) could have gone to a different school to gain the same knowledge without the battle scars!!
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Me too. I had an issue with a painful breast and it was hard. Then I got the dimpling (SH)*&T)! I was going for my usual checkup and mammo when they found something (Ya Think?)?? I had an US and biopsy. Also had an MRI. Please note: ILC does not usually show up on mammo.
When final pathology report done it seems I also had DCIS in the same breast - the other was clear. Also note: ILC has a tendency to be bilateral.
I asked onco if it was the DCIS that showed up in the mammo and he said it was possible. I was very very lucky!!!
Jan
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Jan,
Yes!! I was "lucky" in that my ILC formed a lump relatively early in the game which brought my attention to it.
My mammogram was "unremarkable" BUT because there was a lump, that mammogram was followed by an ultrasound which showed the tumor in all it's ugly glory!!! That led to a biopsy that showed ILC....
While I wish things could have been different, I AM very grateful that the stupid thing formed a lump that got everyone's attention (many are not so lucky). As I have told my daughter, I feel I received the best of a bad situation and for that I am truly grateful!
I do think that is the message that needs to get "out there".... Sure, get your mammograms when you are supposed BUT, don't be totally reliant on them catching everything. Even if your screen is OK, IF you 'feel' something is not right, it may, indeed, not be! Follow your gut, and have additional testing done. We are the best advocates for... well.. us! That was definitely my "take-away" from this whole thing.....
The bilateral thing IS something that us ILC gals need to be aware of. As part of my follow-up I am having MRI's (both breasts) every 6 months along with diagnostic mammo/US on the off months... Pretty much I am having one test or another every 3 months.... Not my favorite thing but, it's what I need to do!
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I actually had 2 tumors which were 1.1 cm apart so a lumpec was out of the question for me. Since ILC can be bilateral I opted for NEW BOOBS! Whoo Hoo!!!!
I'm glad something 'lovely' is coming out of this nightmare!
Jan
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I didnt know that smoking blocks chemo. I want to quit. Im worried. I have 1 more dose of chemo and still smoke. I quit before, but so hard now. The stress is so bad. Good luck to you both. Im gonna keep trying. Hope i havent screwed up my chemo. Been hard enough
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Vlady:
Welcome to our thread!!
I would ask the onco about the effects of smoking on Chemo.
Alot of us have tried different ways to quit and I'm sure others will be along to offer their advice. We have a great group of ladies here that are in several different stages of their quit but we all have the common element of support from each other!!!
Post often...
Jan
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will be back later to post how I quit, I was a pack and 1/2 smoker for 30+ yrs. I am a non=smker for 1 week as of yesterday. Karen
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Welcome Vlady4848,
I have been posting here for quite some time and have never taken the time to read the links in the header of this thread. I did today (as well as some consulting with Dr. Google...lol)..
The 1 study in the header references 1 small study out of University of South Florida where they were studying nicotine's effect on 1 particular type of LUNG cancer. The other site doesn't cite what study it was based on. Searching around for a bit, I could not find any reference to that 61% number from the header. Best I could come up with is this taken from cancer.net (http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Risk+Factors+and+Prevention/Tobacco/Tobacco+Use+During+Cancer+Treatment)
"Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is not as effective for patients who smoke compared with nonsmokers or smokers who quit before treatment. Smoking during radiation treatment can also increase side effects, including oral mucositis (inflammation of the mouth and throat), loss of taste, xerostomia (dry mouth), weight loss, fatigue (extreme tiredness), pneumonitis (inflammation of lung tissue), bone and soft tissue damage, and poor voice quality.
Chemotherapy. Although less is known about effects of smoking during chemotherapy, smoking has the potential to increase side effects including weight loss, cachexia (weight loss with muscle weakening), fatigue, and lung and heart problems. In addition, smoking during chemotherapy may suppress the immune system and increase the risk of infection."
While, no doubt, quitting smoking is for the best, I think there is still quite a bit of sorting out to do yet!
In any case, quitting smoking during active treatment is hard but can be done! There are several ladies here that are doing just that!!
Do not beat yourself up with the "what if's" and "if I'd only's"... All of that is water under the bridge.. Can't be changed so don't waste time and energy worrying about it! What matters is what you do from here on out!!!!
I smoked all through treatment. DO I wish I hadn't knowing what I know now? Absolutely! BUT, I did the best I could at the time and do not regret quitting no matter what the time-frame!!
Best of luck to you and hope to hear more from you soon.
PS: If anyone has some information that shows that nicotine reduces the effectiveness of chemo in breast cancer patients, please, post a link!
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Jennifer:
You are like our resident non smoking guru!!!!
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Jan,
I have been meaning to take a look at those links for quite some time because I thought "WOW, if the decrease in effectiveness is that great, I am surprised that none of my doctor's (or anyone else) had talked about it"
Hope I didn't come off as preachy!
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What kind of treatment did you have for you ILC? Did you do chemo or rads?
I didn't do any of that - just Tamoxifen
Jan
Not preachy at all!!
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Jan,
No Chemo due to oncotype of 14...
Rads times 35 due to lumpectomy rather than mastectomy.
Jennifer
Edited to add: Current plan is Tamoxifen for 5 years followed by one of the AI's for another 5 years.
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Oh, I had dmx with no chemo or rads. Oncotype was 19
Plan is tamoxifen for 5 years and I'm sure followed by AI for 5 years.
I just wish I could stop gaining weight...UGH...even with gym time
Jan
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Well this is my second time posting as my previous one was lost.
Jan, if you will be getting your last fill on Thursday when do you get your exchange? I am so happy for you. Thank you for all of the support you have been providing. I appreciate you. Weight gain has been my worst enemy even when I was a smoker. The year before I had my DIEP I lost 40 pounds by going to an acupuncturist, walking and being on a very low carb diet. I am slowly starting to put some back on and need to go back to the acupuncturist. I love the hiking I have been doing and only wish I could do it during the week. Once the time changes here I will start walking after work again. I don't like walking in the dark and do not have a walking partner during the week.
Jennifer, How are you doing? How is your walking going? Thanks for all your support you provide to all of us. You keep us all on track and keep track of us so well. I would hate to be doing this without you.
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Lady, don't you just hate those dreams. When I was quitting my addictions from chemicals and alchohol I use to have dreams where I would wake up and wonder if I had relapsed. It would make me feel terrible. I have not had any of those for smoking and hope not to. Keep up your good work and thank you for your support.
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