Darrell...

I see on bottom of your note you had a reoccurance. Really sorry to hear about that after what you had to go thru. I guess that horrible possiblity will always be in the back of everyone's mind that have had this. I hope you can lick it for good this time.

On the smoking thing. I also used to smoke over 2 packs a day until I had the heart surgery. I stupidly did pick the habit back up a few months after the bypass...but only about a pack day. Then about a year ago my company got on a health kick and banned smoking ANYWHERE on company property (used to be able to sneak outside for a puff now and then). I'm basically lazy, so I wasn't about to walk about a block to get off co property so that's 8 more hrs I couldn't smoke so went down to about 1/2 pack a day. I'm ready to take the 'last' step since I've heard that the smoking can diminish what the chemo is trying to do. Also, when the taste buds go bye-bye I'm sure smoking will never have been the same anyway.

So, the way I look at it: If I can survive the treatments I could come out of this a whole lot thinner and smoke free. At least that would be something for sure.