Hi all,

I quit cold turkey 9 years ago (absolutely broke and starving from setting up our own business), and survived quite well for a week until we had money. But then the dreaded psychological addiction was still there, and we started smoking Indian beedies (rolled up leaves with hardly any nicotine). The habit is still there, but one I do like about quitting the fags is that I can't stand the smell of nicotine, even from 100 yards away. I let my customers smoke in my studio (musos), as I still puff (trying not to - it's interesting how many times you make an excuse to go to the bathroom... :-) ) on my beedies. One good thing about them is that I can last for ages without craving a smoke, but it's still the psychological thingo (like when I am writing or doing my audio work, or after a meal).

My elder sister still smokes, although she stopped briefly after my diagnosis. Smoking is a very hard thing to give up, especially when you have been brought up in a smoking household/environment. I don't know whether to completely blame myself for my illness (although I do, and then I think I shouldn't put so much guilt on myself, I should just concentrate on beating this bastard), but I have a family history of cancer. My father was dead at 48 from colonic (I'm nearly his age), both grandmothers (breast and bowel) and one grandfather (smoker), plus various other relatives. I wonder how much is genetic, how much is self-inflicted, how much environment and how much from psychological dramas (had lots of those as a child). We'll never know, just luck of the draw. I know heaps in the music and arts industry who do much worse than I have, but most of them are cancer free. I still tend to blame myself (it's my usual inner "guilt" trip! :-) ), and I wish I'd never started smoking. My dentist sent a sympathy note, but then says in the other breath "you smoke". Why did he not notice the SCC or swollen lymph last year, just before I was diagnosed? (There was a post here not long ago about dental training in recognising such things, I think.)

All I can say is, I'm glad to have found this site, and everyone take care.

P.S. Has anyone noticed problems with eyesight since radiation?

Cheers!

Tizz (from OZ)

Tizz,

I read that pot has over 400 carcinagens and I smoked cigarettes for about 10 years and pot for about 25 years. I have lung cancer on my father's side and my mother died of ovarian cancer. I don't know if it helps to find the cause or "blame". Just recognize that lifestyle changes have positive affects and go with it.

I had my eyes checked because it doesn't feel like I see the same as I did. One eye was worse and one eye improved. I was really surprised and ended up changing my glasses. I guess I only have one problem...and one surprise!

Ed

Hi all, Im new to this forum and was reading the posts about smoking and addiction. My first response was, how can these people NOT stop smoking when doing so can very well mean their lives. Than I thought about something somebody said about other addictions such as food, shopping etc. I had gained 100lbs because of my "addiction" to food and never even knew I had an addiction. One day I woke up, looked at myself and decided ENOUGH, I can do this. Everytime I got a CRAVING, I went for a walk, or ate something healthy, like an apple or some sort of fruit. I was Determined NOT to go on like this. Long story short, I lost 100lbs in 9 months and have kept it off for nearly 20 years. It can be done and I know each and everyone of you here have the Determination, the fight in them to do it, if you didnt, you wouldnt be on this forum right now you would have given up long ago. From reading these message boards I have found such strength within myself to do the things I now must do. I have found a growth on my tongue, several months ago, went to dentist, ENT, Oral Surgeon and MD and all said Pappiloma or Lymphatic tissue, but all agreed benign. After reading the posts here, Ive realized the only true way to know its Benign is to have that biopsy. I called a few minutes ago, informed my Oral Surgeon how concerned I am about this growth and he scheduled me in for tomorrow at 2pm. Everybody here is so strong, so brave, I know you can find a way to quit your addiction. You have given me the strength to do what I should have done several months ago. God bless all of you...

Dear Packer66 Littlegirl: Quitting smoking is a very difficult thing to do. I smoked a pack a day for 40 years and continued smoking even after my cancer diagnosis. At the time, unknown primary, stage IV, 3.5cm node right side. I smoked up until the day before my tonsilectomy, 11/19/03. That is a sure fire way to stop smoking, have a tonsilectomy. I guarantee you will have no desire to smoke for at least the 12 days of unimaginable pain (even with codine and morphine). At the end of which, why bother starting again. Some of the previous folks have mentioned other ideas, but I know I could never have quit cold turkey or with patch. I liked smoking too much. I liked the taste, the smell, the effects and the feelings. I still get desire to smoke, but one deep breath and the lung pain reminds me of the reason I stopped. So, if all else fails, schedule a tonsilectomy. I guess I'm a wimp, too, and I live in Florida where it is never to cold to be a wimp. Good luck and hang in there. Kirk Georgia

Good for you Maria, I agree, it takes determination, but you also have to want to want to quit bad enough to do it. Anyone who has seen the disfigurement that Frank had, after 6 surgeries, yes, he was a smoker and drinker,should be able to quit with no problem at all, and especially if there may be a genetic link to oral cancer, which would seem to make it double trouble. Frank did quit smoking, but then again, there was really nothing he couldn`t do, if he set his mind to it, he proved that over and over again, til his body just got tired......congratulations on keeping the weight off..................Love and Hugs, Dee