I have to admit that I have seen some pretty nasty withdrawals from alcohol involving convulsions and the like. Of course we are talking mainly about "maintenence" drinkers here. Some drug withdrawals can have similar results. Some people require a medically supervised phase out.

I don't think you can be a wimp and live in Maine! It's too cold there for wimps

Medical supervision of anyone who really wants to quit can be done for those seriously addicted by Rx nicotine inhalers with a Dr's Rx. They have as much punch as tobacco, but under a docs watchful eye, you have to be making the effort to quit to keep getting the Rx. Nicotine is addictive, but it doesn't cause cancer. By the way anyone who tries to abuse the inhalers will get very nauseous...they add a little something to them to make sure this does not happen.

Spleeny............gosh Dee, I haven't heard that word used in years!! You are so right, it is the word used in Maine and I grew up listening to my Dad say it.
I know that when I was at the end of radiation my liquid vicodin ran out and I decided to just stop using it. I only had one treatment left anyways and the pain was manageable. I went through quite a withdrawal and it is still my most vivid memory of my radiation.

As far as quitting smoking goes. My doctors do not believe my cancer came from smoking. The cancer started under a tooth down in my jaw bone. There were no outward signs and I had cancer nowhere else in my mouth. Now, this may be true or not true, I'm not sure. All I know is that I wasn't a heavey smoker but I did smoke. The day before my surgery was my last day of being a smoker. I didn't even think about smoking until I was home and felt alive approx. 2 weeks later. To this day I miss smoking as it was a comfort to me. My husband, who smoked more then I did, also quit cold turkey when I came home from the hospital. Our kids are thrilled about it. My best friend had to use Wellbutrin to quit, so I guess it depends on the person. I suspect that some will never be able to quit, even with the threat of it causing a return of the cancer. You have to have been a smoker to understand the incredible hold it has on you.

Frank`s docs told him the same thing about smoking and drinking,they didn`t think either had caused the cancer, the tumor was deep under his tongue, in fact it took more than one biopsy to find it.And one note I have to add about Wellbutrin, my son`s doc put him on it, never suggesting any other methods, and he nearly landed in the hospital with side effects...You are right about the comfort issue.....I think alot of here are in the oral fixation stage, which personally, I prefer to anal retentive, that`s why I think so many of us are so verbal......God knows, when Frank could talk, he never shut up, and we all know I can`t keep my mouth shut...........Hugs, Dee

What would you think of a doctor who, when you were already dealing with a diagnosis of cancer, lays it on you that your smoking and drinking probably caused it? He'd be pretty insensitive don't you think? But in actuality 75% of all oral cancers are lifestyle related, that is a fact not my opinion. No one wants to hear that they were the architects of their own situation, and the docs know that it serves no purpose to pass out blame; it only makes the patients mental situation worse. Their job, and this boards function is to help people get through it in the best possible way, no matter how they came to it. In Packer's case he told me that he had a lifelong relationship with both tobacco and alcohol except for a break in the middle when he got away from that part of his lifestyle choices.

However to suggest here that something other than habits that we have had in our lives caused many of us to get a cancer, does a disservice to those that come here with questions, and no diagnosis yet... it almost sounds as if smoking is OK. The fact is that tobacco IS related to our illness in a very intimate way.... three fourths of the time. Because a doctor does not belabor that point once you have a diagnosis of cancer does not mean that he dismisses its involvement, it means he knows that no good will come of a "you should have known better" once you are in his care.

Many will never know for sure exactly why this happened to them, for others the carcenogenic connections will be there clearly. The point is, for us it really does not matter why, it matters what we do now. We play the cards we have been dealt the best that we can, we try to stay free of any self recriminations, we do not become judgemental of others who perhaps made poor choices, and we owe it to others to warn them off of the things which bring too many people to oral cancer...smoking and excess alcohol use. While some can genetically get away with exposing themselves to tobacco for long periods of time, for others their genetic make up could require a very short period of exposure to wreck havoc.

Brian, I totally agree with you about the alcohol and cigarettes, although, the doc who told him they could`nt say what caused it had the sensitivity of a rat, he advised against surgery, told Frank he wouldn`t look human, first big mistake.........I think Frank knew he caused the cancer, he continued to smoke for 2 yrs after his first radiation, and I think when this happens there`s almost a death wish involved, I simply could not get him to stop. He stopped when he got the tracha and I don`t think that`s what stoppped him, his whole outlook just changed, it was his wakeup call, I don`t know if it was the nearness of death, but he decided he wasn`t going to let it beat him and hung in for 3 more years.Truth be told, my personal opinion, there are other issues involved, perhaps genetic, environmental. Case in point,my Mother died suddenly,she smoked 3 packs a day. I read her autopsy report and her lungs were pink and fine, I expected them to be full of tar and crap, go figure.....I think the point is, nicotine is a drug we don`t need, it causes more than just cancer, high blood pressure, circulation problems, anxiety,and certainly a waste of money. When you stop smoking, it gives you a lot of freedom, no worry about running out, no concerns about nonsmoking areas, in my case, a decrease in anxiety, and certainly more money in our pockets. If we smoke and we get cancer, it`s something we can`t change. We understand that we made a big mistake, stop smoking and get on with the battle.We all make mistakes, and we can`t change them. We wouldn`t learn much in life if we didn`t make mistakes..........Dee

Quiting cigarettes is a very tough road. It took me several tries to finally quit. Personally, I recommend getting a script for wellbutrin. Of all the times I tried to quit, I was most successful when I was taking wellbutrin. It made it relatively painless for me and esspecially for those around me. A couple of my friends have had good luck with this stuff too. No matter how many times you fall off the wagon, keep trying! You'll get it.

-Brett

Hi, The gum works well, you live in Pa. try Walmarts its cheaper. Had two friends quit this way. My husband and I both quit when I got Cancer,I had no choice and he did it cold turkey.I have become quite fussy about this and hate to smell smoke or be around a smoker, but the other day I walked out of the grocery store and a woman lit up in front of me and blew smoke in my face, rude yes, but I smelled it and I wanted to smoke at that moment. I wonder if this isn't more of a mind habit thing than addiction! Why after all these years would that happen?????I would NEVER to it, for one simple reason. I want to live longer and risk factor too great, but the old devil is still there!

Quiting smoking is not easy....takes a lot of will power. You must really want to quit. It took me three tries and I quit "cold turkey". Personally I think that is the best way. You will have cravings for about 3-4 days and then the "what to do with my hands" sets in. Do things that require physical activity: tennis, hiking, walking, anything outdoors. Take deep breaths when you think you are going to die if you don't get a cigarette. You can do it! I smoked 30+ years, two packs a day, and my husband continued to smoke (until he got cancer).