"This is like putting a gun in your mouth"

[bimshire]

Many keep smoking after cancer diagnosis
By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY

Up to half of smokers continue to light up cigarettes after being diagnosed with cancer even though tobacco use substantially increases a patient's risk of death, a new study shows. Some cancer patients never quit at all, while others relapse after they finish therapy, according to an article online Monday in the journal Cancer.

"This is like putting a gun in your mouth," says David Johnson, deputy director of Nashville's Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, who was not involved in the research. "That just illustrates the powerful hold that nicotine has on people."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-11-27-cancer-smokers_x.htm
****************************************

Must be tough to quit

 

[floridafam]

Doesn't surprise me.

 

[Beth76]

I suppose some people would rather live shorter lives doing something they love or need (or whatever) than live a longer life without it.

 

[ducklite]

And then the rest of us end up paying high health insurance bills because of them. Ridiculous.

Anne

 

[Tigger_Magic]

And then the rest of us end up paying high health insurance bills because of them. Ridiculous.

Anne

*SIGH* Smoking is not the only or even the proximate cause of high health insurance bills. However, smokers remain an easy target of blame.

 

[HayGan]

It is called addiction.

 

[ducklite]

*SIGH* Smoking is not the only or even the proximate cause of high health insurance bills. However, smokers remain an easy target of blame.

I didn't say it was the only cause. But it certainly contributes to it, and anyone who continues to smoke after a cancer diagnosis is only making matters worse.

Anne

 

[cardaway]

There should be a way for this to work like the organ donation system. IIRC people who do not change their habits cannot get a replacement organ. People who refuse to change their habits should not get further financial help with their medical bills.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I didn't say it was the only cause. But it certainly contributes to it, and anyone who continues to smoke after a cancer diagnosis is only making matters worse.

Anne

We all make choices in our lives, some of which someone somewhere will not approve. As long as the individual is informed of the consequences of their actions, it is their choice to make. That's the great thing about living in America... I may not be able to choose where I smoke, but at least, for now, I still have to choice to smoke, with or without a diagnosis of cancer.

BTW, I choose NOT to smoke and I don't deny anyone else the right to do so.

 

[ducklite]

We all make choices in our lives, some of which someone somewhere will not approve. As long as the individual is informed of the consequences of their actions, it is their choice to make. That's the great thing about living in America... I may not be able to choose where I smoke, but at least, for now, I still have to choice to smoke, with or without a diagnosis of cancer.

BTW, I choose NOT to smoke and I don't deny anyone else the right to do so.

I am not saying that people don't have the right to smoke in their own homes or cars. But like with any high risk activity, including skydiving, health insurance rates should be comensurate with risk, and unfortunately this generally isn't the case. Luckily it is with Life Insurance.

Anne

 

[jaimee1024]

There was just an article in our local paper about how addicting nicotene is. This article stated that it is harder for some to kick nicotene than it is for drug addicts to kick crack, heroin etc... Apparently nicotene clings on to blood vessels and literally reprograms your brain into believing it NEEDS it. My MIL is totally addicted. There is nothing that would make her stop smoking.

 

[Piglet]

It is so addicting. My step father just passed away last February from COPD and never quit smoking. He was so bad for the last couple years and it was awful watching him die so slowly and with so much suffering.

My step dads doctor was constantly on him (for years) to sign a Do Not Recisitate Order. He felt that if he continued to smoke and not trying to help himself that he shouldn't want to be saved. I'm not saying that it is right for people like him to receive a transplanted organ and I know he did it to himself but he was still a person -- a husband, father, grandfather, brother & friend to many. His passing away has been horrible for my family. My 9 yo has had to deal with no longer having her Pap and it has been so painful seeing how hard it is for her to deal with, let a lone myself trying to cope. Trying to celebrate our first Christmas without him and getting ready for the arrival of a new grandchild that will never know him is very hard and brings back so many of those sad feelings.

It is so hard, I was so mad at him for not quitting but I still loved him and wanted him to live as long as we could keep him. He finally got so tired and signed the DNR order.

Just something to think about... I think sometimes people forget that people affected by this is not just the person with the disease.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Just something to think about... I think sometimes people forget that people affected by this is not just the person with the disease.

This is too true. Unfortunately, it is way too easy and acceptable to pass judgment on smokers and persist in "crusades" against them. While it is certainly a risky behavior, we should stop and realize that to some degree we all participate in behaviors that carry some degree of risk every single day. It's just a difference of degree. I think it's more important to learn to live together and tolerate our differences so that life can be enjoyed than to waste time denigrating/bashing someone for choices that are not on one's approved/acceptable list.

BTW, I am sorry for the loss of your stepfather. I hope you and your family find a sense of peace and joy in remembering him during this first Christmas without him.

 

[ducklite]

My dad was a three pack a day smoker for 40 years. He was diagnosed with cancer and quit on the spot. Unfortunately it was too late, and non-Hodgkins lymphoma claimed his life about a year later.

Quitting smoking is hard, I'm sure of that. But it can be done if someone really wants to do so.

Anne

 

[bimshire]

We all make choices in our lives, some of which someone somewhere will not approve. As long as the individual is informed of the consequences of their actions, it is their choice to make.

Not always. Kids that have parents that smoke in the home and in the car just don't have a choice. Its very sad and unfortunate for the little ones.

 

[cats7494]

This is too true. Unfortunately, it is way too easy and acceptable to pass judgment on smokers and persist in "crusades" against them. While it is certainly a risky behavior, we should stop and realize that to some degree we all participate in behaviors that carry some degree of risk every single day. It's just a difference of degree. I think it's more important to learn to live together and tolerate our differences so that life can be enjoyed than to waste time denigrating/bashing someone for choices that are not on one's approved/acceptable list.

One big difference about some smokers is that it also affects the health of those around them..this, I do not tolerate. I know this sounds harsh - but it makes me so angry when I see a mom or dad lighting up in a car with the windows rolled up and they have a child in the back seat. That is just ridiculous and selfish to the extreme!

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Not always. Kids that have parents that smoke in the home and in the car just don't have a choice. Its very sad and unfortunate for the little ones.

I realize that because I grew up with 2 parents who smoked -- in the house, in the car, in relative's houses, just about anywhere and everywhere. But I was not the one smoking -- just getting the "benefits" of their second-hand smoke (long before anyone realized the dangers of second-hand smoke). My comment referred to the choice the smoker makes.

 

[joshsmom]

Preface: I'm not a smoker so I cannot begin to understand the addiction/need to continue to smoke.

I do know that I knew a very lovely woman who was an extremely good foster parent to many children over the years. She was diagnosed with throat cancer after having smoked for 40+ years. She did all of the radiation treatments and still ended up with a tracheotomy. She had to talk using a voicebox held up to her throat, and she continued to smoke right through her trach hole. THAT, to me, shows how strong of a hold nicotine had on her.