| | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) |  "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 | David -- I couldn't agree with you more. I BS'd around with quitting for a long, long time, and someone said that very same thing to me. Done. Of course, a cancer diagnosis is also a great motivator. . . .
There are no magic bullets. I work with addicts and alcoholics, as I also have about 15 years sober. You have to refuse to let yourself be a victim of your substance, whether it is booze, drugs or nicotine. Nobody can make you smoke but you. The rest are all BS justifications.
When given a choice between my life and my cigarettes, it was the biggest no-brainer of my life. Haven't touched one,didn't do any programs, drugs or patches. As the Nike folks would say -- just do it.
Jeff
SCC Right BOT Dx 3/28/2007
T2N2a M0G1,Stage IVa
Bilateral Neck Dissection 4/11/2007
39 x IMRT, 8 x Cisplatin Ended 7/11/07
Complete response to treatment so far!!
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I sat by a woman that must smoke in bed. It sure wasn't the tub that gave her that smell. She reeked of nicotine and had BO too. I tried to get inside the walls to get away from her and then to top it off, she is one of the coghers, or more like gaggers. LOL Man did I feel sorry for the nurse that had to take her vitals. This is the 1st time a smoker bothered me with the smell. I quit for OC the 1st of Jan.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | The nurse was trying to get your husband to quit and instead provided you with an excuse not to quit.
Clearly, her technique is flawed...
I stopped by my radiation center the other day to say hello and bring them up to speed on my latest bout with SCC -- There was a vehicle parked next to me in the parking lot with an overflowing ash tray like I haven't seen in decades -- Don't know how someone could be taking X-ray therapy and keep on smoking (maybe they were getting radiation for something else...).
While I was doing XRT, a fellow was coming in for lung cancer XRT and he REEKED of cigarettes -- I was going to request a change in treatment time to avoid the sickening smell, but for some reason they changed his time.
Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Pete,
Have you ever seen anyone smoking through a trach?
Nicotine is so addictive, that studies have shown that it is more adictive than either heroin or cocaine. Not sure which one was used in the study.
I was fortunate to have stopped smoking at the age of 18. Much easier for me after only 3 years of smoking, than a lifetime.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 | Our first few visits to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fl were disconcerting to me as you would see smokers (patients and visitors alike) standing/sitting outside the entrance....firing away. I just could not believe it.
At some point early this year, the Moffitt campus went totally smoke free...a much better message to all. How can you possibly treat the total body for cancer and condone smoking???
JMHO, Deb
Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997.
DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07 SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0
TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5.
TREATMENT END: 10/1/07
PEG OUT: 1/08
PORT OUT: 4/09
FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams. ALL CLEAR!
Passed away 1/7/17 RIP Bill
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | I'm not saying it wouldn't be better if he quit and I'm not scolding you (yet) but you need to quit, period, with or without him or anyone for that matter.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 | I have and yeah it is really weird I don't crave or really want one the only time is when everyone goes "outside" it is the social aspect that I am missing...everyone is being very curtious about it all but it doesn't really even bother me around it...it is true oc is a good motivator to quit...but I have quit several times before and not made it...this time I feel differently and well I do know what happens if I have just one...I just gotta remember once I am better that's when it will be harder...when all the healing is done is when I think I will have a harder time with the "just one"....todate have not had any..but know where all of them are including lighters and let's face it is up to me...and I am marching forward one day at a time concerning smoking healing and well just about everything...Nobody plans to fall of the wagon with any addiction so for today (and can only speak for today) I choose not to smoke and until I get rid of the "wanting" to smoke it still is a fight and a choice...anyway one more day the battle of smoking is being won for me...I do have support from family in their own way...and I love them for it cause it is their choice too.I can't bully push lecture all I can do is just be me and hope they don't have the same route I have had. I was just pissed at that nurse she was trying to bully my husband and basically tell him that it would be his fault if I started again but it isn't it is MY choice...I just didn't think it was ok for her to although I understand her line of thinking I just didn't agree with it...
Dianne..treatment at cc at Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario...insulin dependant, Surgery Sept 8/08 Tracheotomy,composite resection and bilateral neck dissection, left radial forearm free flap... T2N0 squamous cell carcinoma. No radiation A little over 2 yrs clear YAY
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | I guess this thread went from NUMBERS to smoke cessation. A good topic in and of itself.
So congratulations...you just have to make it one day at a time. It should get easier as time goes on and I hope that you can keep off the weed until you start noticing how much better you feel overall. You are right that having OC is a good motivator. The other times that you quit, you didn't have such a GOOD reson to quit.
We're all behind you and know you can do it. Good luck.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Now you get my Gold Star to place on your forehead.
Way to go.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 | I'm surrounded by smokers...tried to get them all to quit one time or another...And here I am with OC...go figure.
Smoking is just plain bad.
7-16-08 age 37@Dx, T3N0M0 SCC 4.778cm tumor, left side of oral tongue, non smoker, casual drinker, I am the 4th in my family to have H&N cancer
8-13-08 left neck dissection and 40% of tongue removed, submandibular salivary gland & 14 nodes clean, no chemo, IMRTx35
11-4-08 Recovering & feeling better
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