I am generally an easy going person, but I am sensitive to the issue of smoking. I hate it when a person looking for suppport comes to this site, and immediately is asked if he/she is a smoker. Many smokers feel the animosity of non smokers, and I'm sure it makes them feel vunerable.

I personally believe that smoking is an addiction same as alcohol. No on blames an alcoholic!!! Actually smoking is more addictive than alcohol, drugs, etc. It's just that you don't see someone falling down and/or wasted. Like all addictions it does fill some deep psychological need.

That said, I do believe that smoking should not be allowed in
places where it would annoy others such as restaurants, etc. But remember people, you breathe in as much or more toxic air when you walk down a bustling traffic area and/or stand at a bus stop!

Just my 2 cents. I'll be positive from here on out!
Sandy S.

oooooh Sandy.light the blue touch paper and gently retire lol.I am an addict who had kicked the habit for many years until the final stages of my husbands life.Now the demon has me firmly in its clutches again.I recognise my weakness i am aware of the dangers,i saw my husband die from the effects of long term hand rolling tobacco and i am a social outcast,but this addiction is a tough one.

liz

I think that was posters here want to get to know someone, and part of that is how they came to the disease. We have several choices. That you might be put in one of those categories shouldn't bother you, it is only a category. Do I feel crappy that I am in a virus group? Yes, but I openly discuss it to edify others. If someone beats themselves up for poor choices, you can put me at the front of the list. If I had known I was going to live this long I wouldn't have treated my body like a rental car all these years. But we don't allow any attacks on people, that made poor choices, or have addictions, or whatever issues. I have seen people gang up on someone that comes here are supports the continued use of cigars (that has happened in the past).

If people ask about your etiology, it helps understand your future as well. Tobacco etiology people have other collateral issues, that some of us would like you to be aware of so you can catch them at the earliest possible point. For the viral group, turns out the latest research shows that we are not free of our virus even after treatments. If I didn't know that, I would want someone to tell me to remain vigilant, because of this. I don't see a lot of posts on here ever where people are rubbing people's noses in their past bad judgment, there is just too much to go around, and we all ended up in the same club regardless.

If someone asks if someone else came here because of tobacco, this is not a condemnation. Thin or thick skins aside, we all discuss much of what we have experienced. We ask questions as we get to know each other. Please do not take offense at these questions, they are not said without malice.

I was a smoker for over 50 yrs and I don't gripe or comlain about smoke,. If it's in the air, I just get up and move or leave. I remember some friends that had quit the habit and acted like I was a criminal whereas before they wanted to be near to have fun and get a laugh or 2. I wonder what they think their perfumes and such do to people like me that cant take the odors. Instant Headache time for me. I just have to get up and go.

Sandy,

First off I do not ask if they are smokers, I ask if they are/were a TOBACCO USER. As we all know there are 2 major causes of Oral SCC; HPV and Tobacco. There may be an emerging 3rd cause but as yet it isn't separately identified. As we also suspect HPV and Tobacco related SCC respond differently to current treatment and (therefore) has different recurrence rates with Tobacco related SCC being the more aggressive of the 2. We also know that most HPV+ SCC begins in the Oropharynx region. Therefore when I ask a new poster if they were a Tobacco user I am trying to find out more about their cancer not to taint them in any way whatsoever. If I do find out they are a tobacco user I do everything I can to persuade them to stop as their life may very well depend upon it.

I don't think it is appropriate, timely or necessary to immediately ask a new member if they are/were a tobacco user.

Instead, if they have a DX of Oropharynx OC, then it would be much more appropriate to ask if they were tested for HPV and briefly explain that HPV and Tobacco use are the two known major causes of Oropharynx OC.

Regardless, anyone with Oropharynx OC should really have their biopsy or tumor tested for HPV and eventually this should become a standard practice.

David:
I didn't mean to attack. I just feel that when someone's first posts in the "Introduce Yourself." I feel that the first response should not be about smoking. People at that stage are defensive if they were/are smokers, and I don't feel it the best initial response to their need for support.

Thanks for the lively discussion. I always love exchanging ideas with you folks. Sandy S.

Well stated Don and Sandy . David is a big guy and can takes a little critism just like the rest of us. Right David old Buddy. LOL I get more than critized, I get shot down and get back up grinning and saying "sorry all" I think most all took a shot at me yesterday for being the idiot of the class.LOL And you know what.,,,, I was.

The problem is also that smokers are sensitized to a "Well, you did it to yourself" attitude (Some of the folks who say that are really denying that they could possibly get cancer).

People try to arrive at an understand by putting things in categories. Aha she/he smoked ..... therefore it can be "understood" why this person gets cancer. Never mind that it is possible that smoking might not have had anything to do with it....
However, if you smoked and end up here is is quite likely that this activity caused the cancer. It is what it is and smoking is the most preventable cause for cancer. There is no point in glossing over this.

I had my last cigarette the day before the glossectomy (..... exactly!!).

M