Quote From: survivedcaI smoked for 26 years and quit a year and a half ago - just before I was diagnosed for the second time with mouth cancer. After having a 10 hour surgery where they removed most of the left inside of my mouth and replaced it with part of my arm, I spent 2 weeks on a ventilator and 6 more weeks at home to "recover". There is no real recovery - quality of life is never the same again! I was the absolute smoker - I never thought I'd be able to quit. The chance of my surviving another 5 to 10 years is marginal - evethough I no longer smoke. If you don't smoke - please don't start. If you do smoke - do everything you can to quit. I may never see my grandkids and my youngest is still in high school. quitting is the hardest thing you'll ever do - but it's the best thing you'll ever do. You won't be an outcast anymore, your house, car and clothes smell better and after the initial "shock" of quitting you feel better. We all know not to start - I was a respiratory therapist and that's when I started smoking....
Your message has made me stop and think. I am sitting here smoking a Marboro Mild as I type. Thank you for posting this. I do not think about resolutions only on Jan.1, I think about resolving to do things different all throughout the year. My Dr. has tried to get me to take Chantix to help me stop smoking. He even called in the prescription when I told him I didn't think I have the mind-set to stop smoking. You see, I have resolved to stop several times. Threw away the cigs. The longest I went was 20 days. Dr.P told the lady that the first 7-8 days would be hard. For me the first 20 days were hard. After that I gave up and felt like I couldn't do it. Even now sitting here, I feel weak, I don't think I REALLY want to stop. I could just kick myself for ever starting. Believe it or not I was 46 years old before I STARTED smoking. I am now 53. Again, thank you for your post. Best of luck with your continuing "recovery"
