quitting smoking - before or after getting the Big C
By Storm
@jcj_111776 (3216)
Philippines
July 20, 2007 1:03pm CST
I think majority of the smokers who quit their habit already has cancer, or already had benign tumors. It's a sad and unfortunate way of changing one's life. Because it's already too late. Some, like my father-in-law, despite the fact that he already has malignant lung cancer, still enjoys smoking a pack of cigarette a day. His reason is that if he's going to die anyway, let him enjoy his last moments with his cigarettes. But for my husband, it was a big wake up call for him. Soon after learning that his dad has lung cancer, he immediately quit smoking and endured the withdrawal symptoms for a week.
3 people like this
4 responses
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
27 Jul 07
I think that is the sad part of the whole story. With so much in media and otherwise about the harms of smoking, people just seem to ignore it and in fact some feel it is a rheoteric against them and continue to smoke. Only too late in the day they realize what they have got themselves into and by then they have cancer.
I think it is good that your hubby gave up smoking after seeing his father's cancer. I work in this field and daily interact with people who smoke and suffer from Lung Cancers. It is very painful to see their suffering, but then all you can do is give them good advice and hope that they take it. Most don't, just yet!!
Cheers!
Ram
1 person likes this
@jcj_111776 (3216)
• Philippines
27 Jul 07
Hey thanks. Something good had come out of my father-in-law's situation. It really opened up his son's eyes that life is too short to be taken for granted. I've tried for years asking him to stop his habit. But as he told me, he's really trying but he couldn't stand the withdrawal symptoms. This last attempt to quit is his longest. I'm really thankful that he had overcome his habit. I always told him that I need him to live longer so he can see his own grandchildren. When my father-in-law stayed with us for a few days, I could seen the pain in his every movement. He couldn't sit down for 15 minutes or more. His chest hurts so much and he usually spends his day lying down on his bed and crying silently.
It's really sad that he's suffering. I wanted to give him comfort but it's like he had put a wall between himself and the outside world. He chooses to suffer alone and doesn't like to be helped. My husband explained to me that his dad is just a little shy and he didn't want me to see the real deal.
I'm not sure how I'm going to accept if my father's got cancer too. He's been a heavy smoker for 30 years or more. He still looks healthy to me. But who never knows? Cancer is sly. It will take over your life just when you least expect it.
1 person likes this
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
28 Jul 07
There is one way to make sure. Take him for a routine check up to one of the hospitals that have CT scanners or Chest X Ray machines. You can get it done and get it verified. Remember if cancer is detected in early stages it is very much curable and the effects of it are minimal. So you can get your husband diagnosed for this.
Cheers!
Ram
1 person likes this
@imgcul (110)
• Taiwan
19 Jan 08
Yes, your father is advisable. I will tell you, the more smoking quantity and the longer and earlier smoking age are,the higher the incidence and mortality will be.
you can find related from here:
http://www.elungdisease.com/smoking-and-lung-cancer.htm
1 person likes this
@jcj_111776 (3216)
• Philippines
29 Jan 08
hi imgcul. yes, I'm aware of that but still thank you for sharing that information. You know, my fathe have been a smoker for more than 20 years and it's a miracle that he's still lung cancer free.
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
22 Aug 07
It is good for your hubby to have quitted smoking, which is not good to the health at all. But still I think that as a daughter of your father's, it is better for you to persuade him into giving it up to make him live longer in the possible way. Please try your best to help him quit somking. Your father is not right to think that he is going to die as none of you would like to lose him. If you let him know how you care about him, I think that he will change his mind to stop smoking in the end. Good luck, friend.
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
29 Nov 07
Hi my friend...
Just dropping by and keeping in touch. Noticed you changed the background on your site and prefer this one. Admittedly I am kind of a 'keep it simple' kind of a person when it comes to layouts on my site and blog...but your latest creation is easier to read and I appreciate that.
When I saw how long ago you posted this topic someone must have brought it back up to the top as you did with some of mine when you responded to some of my older ones. This discussion rang a chord for me because my father initially was diagnosed with colon cancer that migrated to his lungs and eventually killed him.
His view was similar to your father in law. Dad always said he didn't want to die healthy and made no attempt whatsoever to quite smoking. An on-line friend who just went through surgery has the same mindset. She says she won't give up her 'smokes' and that is that! Another gal pal has chronic obstructive lung disease and neither she or her hubby will give up smoking. That troubles me because that condition is what shortened my mother's life too.
So even though we don't get it...there are many who either cannot...or will not make the choice to give up a habit that will definitely reduce the length and quality of life over the long haul. Short term gratification...it can end up biting you when you cannot consider the consequences.
Anyway, we will keep in touch...thanks as always for thinking of me with your thoughtful comments and cards.
Your pal Raia
