Does anybody smoke?

Oh, honey, not a smoker, but you got my vote.

I'm a smoker ... have never tried to quit.

Best of luck to you,

Bren

I was diagnosed on 6/28/10 and smoked my LAST cigarette on 7/19/10.....(15 days ago)! I never thought I wanted to quit but so happy now that I have. I owe it to myself, my husband, and my children to give myself the best possible chance of beating this beast! My BS suggested I try Chantix, of which I did and I can honestly say I'm doing GREAT....I have had no SE's and have very very few cravings for a smoke now, the cravings get less and less each day! Good luck to you! If I can do it....YOU CAN TOO!! Please keep us posted on your progress... I will do all I can to help you thru this.....it is tough and challenging....but again, well worth it!

LadyinBama, do a search in the apps store for Max Kirsten it will find the stop smoking app.

I started smoking when I was 13 years old and at my worst I was smoking 30 a day..

Keep going it will be worth it..

I want to quit too... I really do, but I'm so stressed right now!!! HELP!  I Keep telling myself, as I sit here smoking a cigg, "I really need to quit". 

I'm going to check out that app....

I quit when I was diagnosed back in July 2008, especially to prepare for surgery. But, since after surgery, I still cheat now and then. For instance, I've just started a new job (YAY!!!) and I'm allowing myself a few cigarrettes a day for the past few days. BUT, I don't beat myself up and know that I will stop this, too. In fact, if I don't by Saturday, I'll start Chantix again for a few days/weeks. I may also try that itunes thing. 

The point is, I don't think of myself as a "smoker" anymore.  I was a pack a day for over 30 years!  I'm entitled to a few once in a while, as long as I can keep it under control. And so far, it is. 

Best of luck to you, and to all of us. But remember, don't beat yourself up!  Every hour/day that you don't smoke is a victory!!! 

Sue

you are most welcome.. LadyinBama.  I can still hear his voice in my head if I think about it.  Good Luck I hope it works for you too.  Let me know how you are doing..

Kathleen

Yes it needs to go on your iPod/iPhone.  I think there is also an audio version on his website that you can save and put on a disk/MP3 player.

I was talking to a support working this morning about how hard it can be to stop smoking but it must be even harder trying to do it when you are dealing with Cancer.  She told me that when she meets someone who wants to stop but is finding it hard she tells the this, " If you were offered a drug that would increaseyour chance of cancer or recurring cancer would you take it? Every time you inhale the chemicals in the smoke you are taking that drug.."  I was like OMG how could she say that to anyone... but I guess she is right and I had never thought about it like that.  We are all here to try and deal with the monster BC and to increase our chances of living a normal life, I guess avoiding anything that could increase the risk has to be a good thing, even smoking.

I hope the Max Kristen app helps you to stop and stay stopped, so far it has for me..

I quit 5 years ago. I can't even stand the smell of it anymore. I really did enjoy it when I did though. You will feel better every year. You breathe so much better. Can actually make it up several flights of stairs with out feeling like your lungs are buring!

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Smoking cessation timeline - the health benefits over time
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* In 20 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse rate decrease, and the body temperature of your hands and feet increase.

* Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen. At 8 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood decreases to normal. With the decrease in carbon monoxide, your blood oxygen level increases to normal.

* At 24 hours, your risk of having a heart attack decreases.

* At 48 hours, nerve endings start to regrow and the ability to smell and taste is enhanced.

* Between 2 weeks and 3 months, your circulation improves, walking becomes easier and you don't cough or wheeze as often. Phlegm production decreases. Within several months, you have significant improvement in lung function.

* In 1 to 9 months, coughs, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease as you continue to see significant improvement in lung function. Cilia, tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs, regain normal function.

* In 1 year, risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack is reduced to half that of a smoker.

* Between 5 and 15 years after quitting, your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.

* In 10 years, your risk of lung cancer drops. Additionally, your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease. Even after a decade of not smoking however, your risk of lung cancer remains higher than in people who have never smoked. Your risk of ulcer also decreases.

* In 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack in similar to that of people who have never smoked. The risk of death returns to nearly the level of a non-smoker.
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So unless you plan on not being around in 10 -15 years I say really try and quit. It isn't easy but it's really worth it.

Today marks week 3 for me for being smoke free!!! YAY.....I am excited and encourage others to do it! I personally am taking chantix...I have had NO negative side effects and have absolutely NO desire to smoke!! I am also determined to beat this BEAST that grew within me to afford myself and my family a longer life!!

Good luck to those trying to quit....I know it is a hard challenge but YOU CAN DO IT!!