Smoking or insanity?
I saw Anne Mitchell's article about Patrick Swayze. He is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He is getting treatment but is still smoking. I'm kind of in the same boat. Recently, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. I was very lucky to catch it early. They were able to remove the malignancy (lobectomy) right lower lobe. All of the lymph nodes are negative and there is no metastasis, local or otherwise. No chemo needed. I will take screening Cat Scans of the lungs every three to six months. In the meantime, I'm smoking again. This is the lowest form of addiction. Like cocaine or heroin. Desperately trying to quit. Need some input, please.
Tony,
I'm glad your lung problem was caught early and you don't require chemotherapy or other treatment. However, as you know, the cause has not been eliminated...yet.
It is essential that you stop smoking. You've already demonstrated that you can develop lung cancer in one area, which means you are a high risk of developing another one in the lungs. Also, you've had a lobectomy, which cuts down on lung function. This, together with loss of function associated with tobacco use, will lower any reserve you have. Further smoking will only diminish your function.
Now, for the good news. Your doctor now has many different smoking cessation aids to assist you in the difficult task of quitting. These include several medications to minimize the symptoms of withdrawal from tobacco, as well as nicotine substitues that can be withdrawn over time. All have proven successful. The main incredients are the decision to quit, and the determination to get through the withdrawal process. It can be done.
So call your doctor today and make an appointment to explore the options available. Please review the areas of this website that cover the methods and aids to quitting so that you have a base of information to discuss with your physician.
Thanks, and best wishes.
Martin Cane, M.D.
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