Smoking anyone quit?

Hi Martygra, i know the feeling i smoked on and off during chemo I really found it hard the stress was terrible, i have just had a bilateral mastectomy and have cut it to 2/3 smokes a day...........i so want to quit, and i drank beer (in moderation), its hard enough to go through this and give everything up, people who have never smoked just dont understand, maybe we could support eachother..............i want to get healthy and live a long life as i am sure you do, chat soon Bev

Hey Martygra.  Yes to both of your questions.  I smoke and I like to have a few drinks on the weekend or the nights that I'm not working.  I have not cut back on the smoking (are you kidding?  I need my nicotine at a time like this!) but I have cut way back on my drinking.  Now only drink some on the weekends and when I can afford it.  I am having to pay for so many co-pays, there's just nothing left for my alcoholic pleasure.  Probably have no plans to quit smoking.  Truthfully, I know it's a bad habit but I enjoy it.  I have been using my e-cigarette more though.  And that does help on cutting back on the real thing.

HUGS!

Hello, Martygra,

Yes, I quit after my BMX. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, but so worth it! I cannot emphasize that enough. I am someone who thinks smoking will be found to be one possible cause of BC. Also, remember that BC that is er-positive puts one at a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer risk also goes up for smokers - there is a direct link there. If you have radiation to the breast, there is a small chance of damage to the lung, which can also be affected by smoking. In other words, I couldn't imagine continuing to smoke with a BC dx and I am shocked that oncologists do not insist on this at some time in treatment. I am convinced that I would have relapsed by now had I continued to smoke. Doing so really is playing with fire at this point in our health histories.

If you do quit, it may certainly be a better idea to wait until after chemo to ensure success, but I saw quitting as a life and death imperative.

Alcohol is probably a much lesser danger, IMO. Cigarettes can get us through a million avenues. Alcohol won't be too terrible unless a person drinks too much. They keep publishing these petty studies saying one drink, two drinks three drinks etc/week is good/bad/indifferent depending on the study. In other words, they don't know. Alcoholism is terrible, a bit of wine is good for the heart. That much we do know. :-)

But even one cigarette is bad.

Cancer, bilateral mast., chemo, lymphadema, neuropathy (hands and feet), diabetes, Arimdex side affects (pain), going bald, hot flashes, weight gain (stomach), mood swings and very aggressive behavior.  Can you imagine what it would be like if I quit smoking?

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I still smoke and don't know how I can get up the willpower to quit at stressful times. I have tried to cut down, though.

I don't drink hardly at all, though.

Diagnosed in May 2011 with extensive DCIS of the right breast.  BMX 9/12/11 with biopsy of sentinel node.  Final Pathology report : clear margins and Negative Lymph Node.  I was told to quit smoking before surgery if I wanted tissue expanders to go in immediately. I quit on 7/05/11 cold turkey and have not smoke sinced.  Unfortunately the PS was unable to insert tissue expanders the day of mastectomies due to lack of good blood supply, so I will wait 3 months and have it done after holidays.  I still crave smoking but not every minute of the day like the first few weeks..Don't get me wrong I could smoke a whole cigarette in one drag!  But I really do want to have reconstruction and don't want to jeopardize that by smoking.  I love Barcardi Limon and Diet Coke and am trying to cut back on that as well!!!  UGH!  Love reading everyone's stories on here and am glad to be a pink sister!!! 

I smoked two packs a day for 30 years and like rjbaby, i loved smoking and vowed i would never quit.  i used to say that i'd rather die of lung cancer than alzheimers.  my surgeon asked me to quit at least a few days before my lumpectomy because, according to him, surgery was more risky for a smoker and there were dangers of developing pnemonia after surgery.  he didn't shame me about it, but just asked for a few days.  two days later i bought some nicorette gum and quit.  that was on may 29 and i haven't smoked since.  for some reason, it was easy for me.  i kept thinking about how hard it would be to be sitting in a chemo chair and craving a smoke.  i still have 'triggers' that make me want a cigarette, but i'm so happy that i don't smell like smoke.  also, i'm 65 years old and have five grandchildren, one a brand new baby.  i wouldn't touch or hold my grandchildren when they were babies until i changed my clothes.  it was such a pain.  i don't have to do that with the new grandson.  i miss smoking, for sure, though.

  VJSL8.....  I would love to have all the info you can give me.....somedays are worse than others....I sooo enjoy smoking and have been smoke free since 7/05/11 because of my diagnosis, but I could go back to smoking in a second.  I am taking you up on the offer to send me whatever you can to help with this terrible addiction......email address: benandzeb@comcast.net

Thank You

Coolbreeze--my books have a lot of your suggestions in them--learning how to live life as a smoke-free person. And you are right that nicotine leaves the body very quickly--the halflife is 2 to 4 hours (half is gone in 2-4 hours, another half (1/4) in another 2-4 hours etc),  BUT physical withdrawal symptoms can last up to 6 months. Nicotine hijacks a specific receptor within the survival instinct part of our brain and creates a whole lot more of these receptors. As nicotine leaves the body--and these receptors--they go crazy wanting nicotine and it takes awhile for the receptors to calm down. Functional MRI's show activity in these receptors up to 6 months, but most instense is the first 2 weeks. So it can still be physical as well as behavioral once the nicotine is gone. VJ

10/31/10 was my last day of smoking. Coming up quick on 1 year.  I'm so glad I quit when I did.  Trust me, when I got my diagnosis in April of 2011, I wanted to run right out and by 3 packs and smoke them all at once.  Crazy right?  Get diagnosis of cancer, want to smoke! 

I loved to smoke and I miss it. Unfortuantely I work in a nursing home and I see the affects of smoking on people who have smoked their entire lives.  I also have young children and I want to break the cycle with my children.

I also wanted to say that some PS will not do certain types of reconstruction, or even any reconstruction if you are a smoker. I know of more then one lady here who was told no on the reconstruction until they quit.  

I wish you all the best of luck if you decide to quit.  It is a very hard thing to do.