Hi Farrah,

I was 41 when I was diagnosed and had smoked since age 19. My ENT doc pretty much laid it on the line for me the first time I saw him. He laid out the treatment plan, told me it would start in 3 weeks and if I wanted a chance at it being successful to figure out how to say goodbye to the cigarettes by that time. I smoked my last cigarette at mid-night before I went into surgery the next morning for PEG and port placement. Radiation and chemo followed in a few days and soon I certainly didn't crave a smoke. Since treatment ended, I have had very few cravings. Never really crave the nicotene but sometimes a situation makes me want one - for example, I always talked on the phone outside on my deck and smoked the whole time I was talking. I don't take phone calls on the deck anymore. I have even dreamed that I broke down and smoked - and wake up mad at myself till I realized it had been a dream. I know as sure as I know anything that if I give in and have just one, I won't be able to put them down - they'll have me again. I just keep looking back at all I went through during treatment and the side effects I still experience and think I didn't do all that for nothing - that's enough so far to keep me from picking them back up. I wish you success in quitting - it's such a hard habit to break. Keep on trying.

My treatment began in March '04 - so I've been quit about a year and a half. Just a couple months ago, I remarked to my ENT doc that he never mentioned my smoking again and never asked if I quit - he just smiled and said "you quit". He then said he would be able to smell them on me even if I didn't smoke a couple days prior to my appointment. Know it all doctors!

Pam