Stop Smoking Support Thread
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I quite a week before my first surgery and about a week after, then started smoking again. Had my exchange surgery and smoked up to a week before and a week after.
I wasn't allowed to get my nipple surgery done because I was smoking. So they postponed it till next year. I'm having the hardest time getting ahold of the scheduling nurse now to reschedule when I quit smoking.
Has anyone seen a hypnotist? I going to start on the patches on the 26th, ,so this is my quit date. Then I'm going to see the hypnotist the next week. I've heard really good things about him thru my plastic surgeons office. I was going to get 3d tattoos, but I think I deserve to get my nips done and if quitting smoking is what it takes, I need to do it.
Just wondering if you guys had experience with hypnotist? He said it only takes one session.
Kim
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Kim I did the hypnotist thing TWICE...I forgot about the first time and went back to the same lady 6 years later...it was really funny because once I walked in the room we both thought the other looked familiar...I am a very strong willed and skeptic person and Linda Ann said that I have the most stubborn subconscious she has ever had the pleasure to work with. For me, it did not work...however I think it all comes down to the quality of the person doing the hypnotizing and how well the subject (you) reacts to the suggestions. If I were you I would definitely try it, especially if your PS says he has helped so many.
Big "HI" to everyone and I hope all is well!
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Hey Janzin - I am doing so much better about my rads. I finally just decided that it wasn't about how much radiation I was taking but it was about whether or not I was going to continue taking it period and I am. Now my blood pressure is back to normal and I'm o.k. I still worry about the small stuff, but not so much as before. Nothing I can do about it but try to live a healthy life for myself and my family. What I can do is pray that God takes care of my lungs and that they are not affected from the rads and that my arms or any other part of my body becomes affected by lyphedema and that I stay healthy in every aspect during my radiation. I still haven't completely quit, but there are now days when i don't smoke at all and don't even need that 1 or 2 smokes. I am getting closer to stopping them completely. With any luck and a lot of perserverance on my part I will be able to completely stop by the end of 2009. I will end 2009 as the suckiest year ever by chunking by cigarettes and being 1/3 the way through with rads.
Renee
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Congratulations Renee...you are doing AWESOME!!!!
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I tried hypnosis years ago for weight loss and it worked... temporarily. I think almost anything can work if you want it to. I did the American Cancer Society support group for quitting (free!) and it worked really well till I hit a rough patch in my life. That was about 15 years ago. Not sure what happened to me about 2 months ago but I just guess I was sick of quitting over and over again. I'm still smoking about 1-2 a week but I can go for days and days without one, so i'm very pleased. (Would like to get rid of those 1-2 tho.) But I'd give the hypnosis a try for sure. Esp. if it only takes 1 session.
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Renee I am right there with ya 2009 has been the suckiest year for sure. Hypnosis can work for some, and I am wondering if anyone has done the guided imagery class?? if so has that helped.. This is my last week Has I have said earlier my anniversary is coming up shortly..I really have mixed emotions. trying to be happy and have a great Christmas but my dh keeps saying oh last year on this date.....At his company Christmas Party on Friday evreyone was like oh last year you guys were last cause of your mamogram blah blah blah...Last Christmas I still had all of me so it's very weird how I'm feeling My new implants are doing just fine and healing good. I just feel like something is missing hope I get the spirit of Christmas soon. Maybe when I completely quit will I be able to feel better. I read an article about smoking and breast cancer on the Meridian site. And let's just say they were right to the point BC and smoking is deadly period based on the surveys out of Phiiladephia and Cooper Hospital ...That was the first survey I saw that factual stated the direct link to death. Not that smoking causes Breast cancer that was clear it was once your body produces the cancer gene, go thru treatment and you continue to smoke makes it deadly. That has really bothered me all week.
Breast Cancer and Smoking
Women smokers undergoing treatment for early breast cancer are more than twice as likely to die of the disease than nonsmokers or smokers who quit. According to a study of 1,900 women at Philadelphia's Fox Chase Cancer Center, women who continue to smoke during radiation therapy are two-and-one-half times more likely to die of the cancer than nonsmoking women. The study, published in 2003, found if women stop smoking before treatment, their risk of dying is the same as women who never smoked.
I know this is negative but we have so many newblie on this site and if this saves even one of my fellow BC sisters than please pardon me for being negative. This was one question I asked about smoking and treatment and never saw this study back than, I know it would have made a difference for me.
I wish all my BC sisters a wonderful week filled with love, strength and family.
Malle
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Malle - thank you for posting the information about smoking and increased risk...It is scary and sometimes that is what it takes to help someone say goodbye to cig's for good!
Gentle Supportive HUGS to all!
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Merry Christmas to ALL!!!
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To everyone have a very special Christmas with family and friends.
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Hello, I was looking for a site like this! I am battling cigarette smoking also - I'm down to 2 cigs a day but wish I could give them up for good. I have quit for years (10+) at a time, then have an emotional situation put me right back on them - I have been on Chemo for 3 sessions now (AC) have 2 more to go then I switch to Herceptin/Taxol - then surgery, then radiation - I also read that smokers who have radiation are 60 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non smokers - yikes! I haven't read all the posts so if someone would like to give me any suggestions - I would greatly appreciate it. When I stop smoking, I become extremely depressed and can't stop crying - I have enough trouble with mood swings - lack of sleeping, etc from the chemo - so it gives me a good excuse to keep smoking those 2 - I spread them out all through the day - a puff here, a puff there - put them out, restart them - enough rambling - any help my breat cancer sisters can give me would be greatly appreciated
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Gma Mickey - I had horrible mood swings too...my chemo put me into chemical menopause. My oncologist rx'd Effexor for hot flashes and mood swings...thank godness because I didn't even want to be around myself and felt so horrible for my family. I am also taking Ambien to help me sleep. I never took so much as an aspirin before BC but now I firmly believe in using the tools available to help me have a better quality of life.
I chewed gum like a cow chewing its cud - Doublement - should have bought stock! Blowing bubbles can help too because it gives you the whole 'inhale/exhale' action.
I am also HER2+ and on Herceptin until Aug 2010...I was in a funk just before chemo #3 and rented 'Living Proof' - the movie about how Herceptin was developed - it was so affirming and encouraging to 'see' how blessed we are to have this drug. It made my last few tx's so much more bearable and I go to each Herceptin tx feeling confident that I HAVE kicked BC's BUTT!
I hope everyone has had a Merry Christmas and wishing you all a Happy New Year!
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Hi Everyone and Happy New Year!!! This will be my last night to smoke... Woo HOO!!! I am officially laying them down. As of midnight tonight I will be a non-smoker. I have been weaning myself off for weeks and training myself not to go out for smoke breaks at work. I have one last cigarette left in my pack to bid ado to 2009 which has officially been the most horrible year of my life since 1980!! I will finish up my 23 radiation treatment's I have left and continue on my journey to be cancer free in 2010! Currently I have completed 15 rads!!! I can't wait for Feb. 5th to get here... pending any weather set backs that should be my last day of rads txt.
Good Luck to all of the other ladies here trying to quit. It is no easy task!!! I wish you all healthy and happy cancer free 2010's!!!
Renee
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YEA Renee!!!! February 5th! Last Rad!! Smoke free 2010! I am so happy for you!
Best wishes for a HAPPY and HEALTHY New Year to ALL!
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Malle...interesting information. My GP has previously told me that there was no sound linkage between smoking and breast cancer risk. But I had not heard any of any research linking survival rates with smoking. I had quit but have resumed. It is probably the addict in me, but I am so suspicious of any smoking research at this time. Next week cigarette smoking will be responsible for terrorism, the poor economy, world hunger, and anything else they can hang on it. It's not that I don't believe it.....and it is scary. It's just that I've felt they've gone overboard. I think it's interesting that when the Governer of NY wanted to introduce an obesity tax, people went wild, yet they allow a cigarette tax that is staggering and hits those of the lowest socioeconomic status the hardest. Last I knew, obesity carried a pretty high health risk as well. The commercials that they currently have on TV, the ones that show the person inhaling the smoke, are probably the worst commercials they could show to those trying to quit. Seeing the people inhale like that makes me want to have a cigarette. And now blindness from smoking as well?
Sorry for the rant....must be the hormones.
Sitting here waiting for cigarette smoking to cause my belly button to explode.....
GML
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I was very militant about the stop smoking legions 10-15 years ago when smoking caused everything but fungus on my roses. I quit over Labor Day Weekend, again. I had to quit for back surgery and hope for success of the surgery.
I didn't quit for cancer. smoked the whole time, likely MORE. I quit when dh had heart attack, but he sneaked around while I chewed rubber bands. He and I have both quit at different times, but never together. This time he agreed to stop with me. We'll see who outlasts the other. I could smoke one the size of a telephone pole, but there are none around here. Dang.
Now the advertisers and gov't have begun to make we chubbies the end all of causing everything wrong and becomming social outcasts. It took them a while on smokers, the biggest thing they accomplished was the social outcasts feeling and they will be successful with it again for we with curves.
Just begin listening to the comedians, ck out the different headlines. Advertising and gov't (funded by the insurance industry) will have we chubbies in the back of the resturants, outside, and afraid to go out of our homes in 10 years or so. Of course, the TV ads for the triple patty with double cheese and double bacon burger blow me away, but they will still be on TV. I wonder that the fast food lobby hasn't come up with enough money to deter all the negativity. Oh, yeah, the insurance industry has More money.
I'll send you a dressing if your belly button explodes~!!
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I'm so happy that I found this thread again. I've never posted on this thread, but now, it's time.
I am having a very difficult time with quitting smoking. I had quit for 4 years and then started smoking again after I was dx. And, ever since then, I've started and stopped so many times, I 've lost count. I can usually quit cold turkey - actually, that's the only way i can do it. Although, I was thinking about trying hypnosis, but it costs $300! Can't afford that.
So, I read the first few pages of this thread and there are some really great tips on here. I'm hoping that they will help me. I'm going to try and quit tomorrow so what ever cigarette I have last before i go to sleep, that will be it. I will have to destroy the rest of the cigarettes or flush them down the toilet.
I'm mainly quitting b/c i don't want to get lung cancer. And, I know I'm not doing myself any favors by continuing to smoke. As I'm sure I've put myself at a higher risk b/c I had rads to my chest wall at a reasonably young age and yet continue to puff away. They say it takes about 10 years after radiation to have any effects. And, I've seen the studies on smoking with radiation, they're not good.
So, if you have any new tips to help, please let me know. I need all the help I can get.
Thanks in advance!
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Redspark, I've quit smoking many times over the years - this most recent spate I think will probably take (tho I admit I've cheated a bit). In my experience focusing on positive things is more helpful than focusing on the negative things that are frightening (like lung cancer) because somehow I can't maintain that fear ALL the time!
At some point I made a list of all the positive things about not-smoking (how nice my clothes smelled, not having to spend money, having money to spend on some other wonderful thing, the freedom of not having to rush out for a smoke, etc.) and that's what I try to keep in mind during the day.
Oh, don't forget about American Cancer Society support groups. FREE! And really quite helpful.
Best wishes and good luck!
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Redspark - Quitting smoking is no easy task... I know first hand as well. I have quit several times over the years myself, most importantly when I was pregnant with my children, but both times I started back. After my first child was born I waited 8 months and then started back... How stupid was I? Anyway this time I quit New Years Eve so 2 days smoke free and going!! Since I am in radiation I don't want any long term side effects from the smoking and rads together, and I also don't want to have to battle any other cancers which leaves me with the decision... STOP SMOKING!! That's my decision for me. Everyone has to decide when the right time is for them. I should have stopped when my DH had his heart attack 2 yrs ago and he had to quit, but i didn't. I just made a stupid rule we couldn't have smokers in our house anymore. LOL! It's worked for 2 yrs but it's time for me to say goodbye. Good Luck to you and Me I hope I can hang in there and stay quit.0
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Kitchenwitch- Thank you so much - I should focus on the positive things more. Maybe I've been putting too much pressure on myself. I will definitely try and focus on the good things - like all the money I'll save and maybe no more coughing :-)
And, I will have to check out the ACS. I wish they had someone you could call anytime of the day like they do for other addictions. Why aren't there any support groups that one can go to meet other people suffering through this?
Mimi- Congratulations!!!! - You CAN do it!! The first few days are hard, but it does get better as you probably know. Just keep yourself really busy. And, give yourself little rewards for not smoking. I usually do blow-pops to kill the cravings. They work really well. Thank you so much and I wish you lots of luck!!!!
Unfortunately, I didn't quit today. I justified smoking today b/c I wasn't going to wash my hair today and since it already smells like smoke, why not just wait until tomorrow when I am going to wash it. Craziness, I know. But, it is what it is.
So, tomorrow, is the day b/c I wouldn't be able to smoke anyway as I have someone who is trying to set me up with a guy that doesn't smoke. and, the matchmaker in question doesn't know I smoke. Plus, smoking makes me sick to my stomach sometimes and this is one of those times.
So now, I am trying to prepare myself mentally and keep an arsenal of blow-pops within reach. I just have to remember how much I feel better when I don't smoke - it really helps with sinus issues too!
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Hi All! I have not smoked since May 5th 2009...It was really hard the first few weeks and then I had my MX, by the time I had recovered enough from MX to start obsessing about not smoking I started chemo...I did have a weekly support group for quite smoking and they were great but I still felt a little isolated...I was dx'd 10 days after I quit so I was on a emotional roller coaster and it felt too much like whining and poor me to talk about my dx in group...
On the positive side, my hubby and I just bought a new car...new to me at least, fully loaded with all the perks and power stuff...I have never owned a car this nice and justified to myself and my hubby that when I was smoking I spent at least $200/month on cig's...granted all the savings I would have reaped have been eaten up in co-pays and deductibles but we really needed a better car for my commute. I would have never bought such a nice car when I smoked and I am loving the smell of leather instead of stale cig's...
Congrat's to everyone who has quit and best wishes and supportive hugs to everyone who to on their way to becoming NON-SMOKERS!!!
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Happy New Year to everyone.
I just scheduled my surgery for Feb 15 and have to quit now!! Or no surgery for me. Can anyone provide stories where quitting smoking does indeed help in healing from surgery?
Also those who quit cold turkey does it really get better craving wise after the first 72 hours? I am so afraid I won't be able to stop.
How is everyone else doing with their quits?
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Hi cleomoon!!! Yaahooo! You got a surgery date!! I cannot say either way with the not smoking and healing since I quit before any of my surgeries. I will say that I have healed beautifully with all four surgeries...no infections/inflammation. I had the usual pain/discomfort, minimal swelling and took it really easy. I quit on May 5th, had my biopsy on May 11th, and I did bruise pretty extensively with the biopsy. I had very little bruising with my bil mx, port surgery and exchange. Hummmm...
Best wishes and HUGS!
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Just a quick note to let everyone know I appreciate all the support. I haven't smoked since New Years!!! 6 days and counting.... Today was a really down day for me with the breast cancer. I am on day 18 of 38 rads treatment and almost 1/2 way through. I should be excited. But I am just having one of those days and would have loved to smoke, but I didn't! Of course it helped that I didn't have any available to smoke.
Renee
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Yay, all of you who have done so well! I've been having a little pity party and been sneaking a cig here and there (never more than a few a week, but still). I am going to be thinking of you as my heroine role models today. I can do this!
Cleomoon, I don't have specific stories about healing better without smoking, but it makes sense. Every cigarette infuses your body with toxins and noxious substances. Now your body has to fight to cope with clearing them... I know this is pretty unscientific, but give your body clean air and good food and it will certainly feel better and heal faster. (Just my nonmed two cents.) I think it DOES get a bit easier... it helps if you have a list of alternatives you can turn to. Like drinking a glass of water... smelling a bunch of roses (if you're home).... sucking on a hard candy.... remembering all the wonderful things about not-smoking... There will still be crave moments, but you can overcome them. Others have! ANd you will too. I will be there with you!
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I stopped Chantix a few weeks ago and wondered how I'd do --- I think more about smoking and I 've even begun dreaming about sneaking ciggs from other people's lockers. LOL, only lockers I'm around are at the pool.
Found a butt in the garage, and when I ck'd it later, it had been further smoked by dh. At least I get to blame him for starting back before me. I don't think he's smoking much at all tho. Besides, we have never been the type of couple to nag each other about Anything. We feel we are adults and make our own decisions. Nagging is not something I want either of us to begin.
I wonder when does the desire go away?
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Hi All,
Looks like this thread has been quite for a while. Oh well i just wanted to pop in and say it's been 12 days since I've been smoke free. The only time I've really missed the smokes is the last day or so when I've gotten really stressed about our water being frozen. I haven't broken and bought any cigs though. I'm hanging in there.... I'm determined that this time I won't start back.
Renee
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Good luck, Renee. I found dh's stash and butts last night and tried a few puffs. **gasp*** coughed a LOT and could hardly inhale---that's a good thing! After all I began smoking iin the mid '50's as a young teen!
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Way to go Renee!!!!!
Dotti...so happy those butts tasted nasty!
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Hello ladies! One of my dear friends may be joining this thread soon. Yes this disease is entering the life of yet another young woman. So, I am going to be back here to support her, and love her through this. I hope that is ok with everyone.
You all are amazing, btw! I am so proud of all of you, and to see how strong you are, is just beyong words!
Much Love To All
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Bring her around---the more we have for support of all is better by far.
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