Stop Smoking Support Thread
Comments
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Congrats April!
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Hi ladies .... back from 6 weeks of hell at work. Hope all of you are doing o.k. and staying smoke free. For those of you in the throes of quitting, it does get better. We all can attest to that. It's hard work and sometimes you think it may be fruitless but you will get there. Remember, we have all done it on are own timetable. You will too! Beckers, hope you are feeling better these days and the sores in your mouth have gone. MinusTwo .... are you near the end of treatment?
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Judi!!!!! Hi there. Sorry work has been hell. Nice to see you. My dentist doesn't think it is malignant. Yay. See onc Tuesday.
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Judi: Glad to see you back. I've finished 6tx with Taxotere/Carbo/Herceptin/Perjeta and now am 12 days out from the first Herceptin/Perjeta only infusion. Those will continue every 3 weeks for a year. Lots of test last week. I've seen the results but not talked to the doc yet. Looks like largest chest wall tumor has shrunk about half, but my guess is he'll still recommend more surgery before rads.
Beckers: Sure glad your dentist thinks it's not malignant. Still...hope you have an appointment with a derm doc for a biopsy.
April - good for you - 5 months. Love - you can do it. Rayna - Chantix is good. Ranting is better.
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Minus two, she thinks it is a mucocele. Seeing onc tomorrow and I have ENT appt Thurs I am planning to cancel.
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Beckers - well I learned a new word. Glad Wiki had pictures, since I do know what that is once I see it. Hope the onc confirms & the tx is easy.
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I had never heard of one either. I will have to check out pic on wiki...
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Beckers i'll be in your pocket at onc tommrow hope all goes well.
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Thanks braids!
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Hey Rebecca, glad to hear about the nonmalagincy. Love the word. MinusTwo, you sure have been through a lot. I don't even know what all of the treatment is for you, but I can stand that you have another year of getting infusion. It sure does get tiring, doesn't it. Ladies, I'm off to Vegas on Thursday. I can wait. I'm so excited .... going to see Elton John - got my jewelled glasses ready. It is very hot there so I'm trying to pack real light. I'm going to enjoy my butt off .... on the 9th of Oct. I do my mammogram. Even though it''s three years out, mammograms absolutely scare the crap out of me!
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Judi!!! Well, I got a good report from ENT doc and will have recheck in 6 months. Not even worried! It is soooooooooo hot in Vegas! Definitely pack light and have fun seeing Elton! I am happy I won't have any more mammograms that's for sure. We will come in your pockets. Have to be back pockets I guess. Don't sit on us! :-)
How's the quitting coming along everyone?0 -
I'd like to go to Vegas in the pockets - but of course I'll be there for the mammo. Judi - we'll look forward to hearing about your trip. And a report if it's true you can still smoke everywhere in Vegas.
Beckers - good news from the ENT. Whew !!!
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hello ladies...did anyone who used the ecig notice it made lips or tongue numb during chemo? Just wondering? Thanks.
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Hi lovewins, I did not have chemo so I can't answer your ? about that but if it is getting ready to run out (the cartomizer) it does burn your lips a little bit I find which can cause a little numbness for a few seconds. Is that what you mean?
Hi everyone else!
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no...I actually have burned my lip before. I decided to stop using it and the numbness has gone away. Thanks
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Hi everyone. Saturday night and I'm sitting back, feeling relaxed. MinusTwo, Vegas was a blast. Saw 3 shows - Elton John, a ventroloquist, and Human Nature - all were fantastic. You could smoke anywhere except for in the shows or in the restaurants .... I don't recall people smoking in the restaurants. The smoke was so thick in the casinos that those of us who think we like to go back .... hah, ain't happening. The first few whiffs were enthralling, but after a few minutes you were wanting out. I couldn't believe myself ... I'm thinking to myself "where are the politicians to ban smoking". As if that is going to happen in Vegas. It wasn't tough not to smoke but I just couldn't imagine myself sitting there and actually smoking like I once did - every 5 minutes and all day/night. I've come a long way!
Hope everyone is doing o.k.!
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Judi - oh the temptation. Playing with fire - pun intended. I found the same thing in the cruise ship's casino - it was over the top. Glad you had a fun trip.
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Wow MinusTwo, I didn't think the cruise ships would allow smoking. Amazing. Here in Ontario, we now have a no-smoking outdoor by-law - can't smoke in parks, in front of buildings, etc. They wanted you to take it outside but apparently not anymore. Cruise ships .... that would be a hard one. I guess when there is a lot of money .... anything goes. Hope you are feeling well?
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Hi Ladies: I have a question, I have been unable to quit smoking yet and I'm wondering if they will turn me away from surgery if I'm still smoking. I'm having a skin sparing double MX with tissue expanders. No one has even discussed quitting with me or told me surgery won't happen and I see the PS on the 22nd and should be having surgery within the week if they do the 5 weeks after chemo ends. I have the e-cig and will try again, it's just they seem to be the only friend I have, you'll all understand. Thanks for any info you can give me
Thanks, Rayna0 -
Hello fellow Canadian Rayna! I truly can't help you on this one has no one mentioned it to me but I honestly didn't have time between the diagnosis and surgery ..... 5 days. I wasn't taking any chances so I quit "cold turkey". I was a iron core smoker - 40+ years. I know others on this can help you more then me but I would call to see what they say. I hear the e-cig has helped others so I'm sure they will chime in and give you their experiences!
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Rayna: I agree w/Judi - you ought to call. I think it will depend on your individual doc. Some don't seem to mind but others actually do a blood test to make sure you have no nicotine in your system. We all do understand 'my only friend' and it's HARD. Let us know what your doc says and we'll be cheering for you.
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Rayna,
In most cases that I have heard of the surgeons are able to do the Mx/tissue expander to implant surgery even if you are still smoking but, it is definitely a conversation to have with your surgeon and PS.
When I went through treatment I was still smoking. I wound up doing a lumpectomy/ rads but met with a surgeon/PS team at a well-known cancer center when considering an Mx with reconstruction.
We discussed my smoking and both acknowledged that surgery needs to be done sooner rather than later and were ok with doing implant surgery even though I smoked. They both advised cutting back as much as I could prior to surgery because smoking does hinder healing.
They both cautioned that if I were interested in DIEP or any of the techniques requiring vascular micro-surgery that I would absolutely need to quit (and not on nicotine replacements) at least 6 weeks prior and abstain for 6 weeks post-surgery!
Talk to your doctors. They understand that you are going through a very tough time and this may not be the easiest time to add quitting smoking to the mix. They can give advice as to what they recommend!
I quit smoking over 3 1/2 years ago after smoking for over 30 years. It's a hard thing to do but, you will not regret quitting when the time is right for you!
I wish you all the best!0 -
Thank You everyone for your posts. I have quit before for a year and it was great but stupid me took one puff and right back to smoking. My smoking now is really my friend when I'm wandering around the house all hours of the night unable to sleep because of steroids, it seems to be all I do. I feel so guilty, having cancer and smoking, how stupid but the stress of everything doesn't help. I know I have to just do it but it's so hard.
Thanks, Rayna0 -
Rayna,
I was still smoking when I had my bmx. Wasn't advised to quit until 3 weeks later. Was still smoking 2 months later when I had my port put in and the surgeon punctured my lung. Couldn't smoke after that. Stupid me started smoking again 3 months later. Now I have my reconstruction surgery coming up and absolutely have to quit. PS won't do surgery if I'm smoking. No nicotine either so will have to do it cold turkey. My quit date is next Monday. It's going to be very hard, but I want this surgery so I have to do it. Good luck to you.0 -
Hi All! Had my weekly chemo with Herceptin and I am up at 3:45 in the morning. I mean up, baking, watching TV, and smoking! I know it is stupid, I know I need to quit (I am positive my BS will not do surgery if I am smoking), and I am smoking more than ever. Not working-home all day with my DH who is a chain smoker. I did stop for 6 weeks after my first chemo infusion with TCH which landed me in the hospital, lost 6 days of my life and on a positive note gave me adversion to cigarettes! Couldn't stand the smell, taste, or sight of them! Well, hubby kept smoking, I started to feel better, and you know the ending- I picked it right back up! It was there-in my face and my DH said he refused to quit or stop smoking around me. Did I mention that his father has stage IV lung cancer? I have Wellbutrin and will go back on it, chantrix gives me crazy dreams, and although I have e- cigs- I am not a fan of the chemicals in them. I have been smoking for 40 years and while I know I am addicted, I just don't know how I can stop! I did blame my DH, but it was my choice to pick it up, so I blame myself. Meanwhile I have already gained 10 pounds, which I am being told to stop gaining. I need help! Thanks for letting me go on and on, I guess I need some understanding friends as well!
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Rayna, I would be very careful smoking and recon. Surgeons I went to would not do it if I was smoking. They even tested me for nicotine. Hope Im not chiming in too late.
How is everyone??0 -
Well here I am again . 24 years ago with my first BC these forums did not exist. Hell the internet did not even exist. At that time I was young and stupid, told myself I have to survive to get out of a crappy marriage and raise my son. I survived , raised my son, left the crappy marriage, found a great 2nd marriage and succeeded in corporate America. All the while with my 2 best friends (caffeine and nicotine) .
Retired early last year to enjoy life and cancer is back . Stage 1 ER/PR -Positive, The worst part this time is waiting for the surgery date. This time a double MX with no reconstruction and no cigarettes. I have no idea how the H I will give up the cigs but it has to be done ............. Cold turkey ...............
Rant over ............ for now at least LOL0 -
Flaranch, welcome to Breastcancer.org, although we're sorry you've had to find this wonderful community.
You can count on support from the members of this thread, and the thank goodness there are more effective strategies for giving up your cigs this time around. For an overview, check the section on Smoking at the main Breastcancer.org site.
• The Mods0 -
Fiaranch...So sorry you have to be here as we say, but so happy you found us. This is a wonderful place. I am glad they found it early. I have been smoke free for about 2 months now. I could never image I would have the strength to quit...I did it with Chantix and and ecig. I have not used the ecig for about four weeks now but it helped with the transition. I Praise God He helped me quit smoking with those tools. You can do it!!! Best of luck...M0 -
Love - glad you're still checking in here.
Firanch - Sorry you've had a new BC diagnosis just at the time you were finally getting time to enjoy retirement. I too used Chantix but stopped many of the 'triggers' before I tossed away the smokes. First quit smoking in the house. Two weeks later I quit smoking in the car. Two weeks after that I started Chantix. As a 40 year smoker, it was a life saver for me.0
