Actually you are more than welcome to post your issues here we are here to help. I wasn't offended since I do understand the fear. Some (not all here) do have a history of smoking or drinking and regret where it has brought them.

I think the upset is related to the fact that you said you may try to give up these behaviors soon. It's kind of like playing with a time bomb, once you see a friend's arms and legs get blown off maybe it's time for you to stop. All of our members are scarred in some way from this treatment and cancer, some are permanently disfigured.

This scare may be a warning sign - you know one of those big flashing lights that says HAZARD STOP!!!!! So to continue to smoke and drink seems cavalier.

My mom was a heavy smoker and coffee drinker, (no booze) she told me they'd seen something on a chest X-ray - I told her up front, if this ends up being cancer we'll fight it, if it's not- consider this a warning and give up the cigarettes - well it was too late for her. She did end up quitting because she was so sick she couldn't even eat, her biopsy came back positive for lung cancer, and they fast tracked chemo (the first batch was an old style chemo given to her literally 2 days after dx - this allowed her to feel well enough to go home for Christmas,) she finished treatment 6 months later had a few shots of rads to the head, and lived for 2.5 more years before the cancer spread to her brain (6 tumors - several the size of an egg) she died 2 months before her 60th birthday. (The dr told me when he gave me the news that she had maybe 3 years to live) her cancer if caught In the early stages had a much higher survival rate, but once it shows up on an X-ray it's already stage 4 and pretty much terminal - 5% survival rate) oral cancer (non HPV related) has a 35% survival rate if you continue to smoke.

So - I guess you can gather what my advice is... Soon isn't soon enough... How about NOW? Hugs