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swedge35
swedge35 Member Posts: 15
edited August 2015 in Just Diagnosed

Hi

I just found out this morning that I have IDC. My appointment is on 8/25/15 with the breast specialist. I am a smoker for about 30 years. I have a feeling this may affect something. I've read that chemo can cause breathing problems. I'm just wondering what experiences people have had. Believe me, I will be quitting. I'm just worried that I've really screwed myself. (I don't even know what's going to happen yet with my treatment.)

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  • MsPharoah
    MsPharoah Member Posts: 1,034
    edited August 2015

    Hi Swedge, I have not read anything about breathing problems with chemo, but there isn't a doctor on your team who won't advise you to quit! What you will encounter most as a smoker is a reluctance on the part of a plastic surgeon to do reconstruction unless you quit smoking for at least 6 months prior. Smokers' skin does not heal as well as non-smokers and the success rate for reconstruction is very much lower for smokers. So what that might mean if you decide on a mastectomy is delayed reconstruction, even if you would normally be a candidate for immediate reconstruction.

    I used Chantix to quit smoking and it was quite effective. I am smoke free now over 2 years and very happy.

    Good Luck, MsP

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2015

    swedge35 welcome to our BCO community. There is a stop smoking support thread that may also help you: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/152/topic...

    Here is a page from our site that talks about breathing problems as it may relate to treatments:

    http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects...

    So, looking only forward now, see if you can try and quit smoking and take care of yourself We're all here for you !

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