Okay, I have another reasonable question, which also refers to what might possibly be an urban myth. Now I've been smoking for 10 years, and I'm getting ready to quit on May 10th. In the last 10 years I've never smoked more than a pack a day, but in the past 10 years I have fluctuated back and forth between 5-6 cigarettes a day and a whole pack a day.



Now I've heard that people who smoke for 10-20 years or longer will have increased chances of getting cancer AFTER they quit smoking. The reason for this is because they started at a young age while their body was still growing, and continued to smoke well into adult life. After a decade of smoking heavily, their lungs have grown accustomed to reproducing new cells at a rapid rate to replace the cells damaged by smoking. And once a smoker cuts off the nicotine supply and the smoking drastically by quitting cold turkey, the body still continues to reproduce cells at an accelerated rate, and this causes pre-cancerous cells (put there by the carcinogens in the cigarettes) in the lung to grow into full blown tumors AFTER a smoker has quit smoking.



Now this sounds like a very intelligent theory, does anyone know if it bears any truth? My husband and I are both afraid that in my case, I might get sick when I quit smoking. This is going to stop me, because I'll look at this way. If I quit and this theory is true, then yes there's a small chance I will get cancer. But if I don't quit and I keep smoking all my life, then there's a BIGGER chance that I will DEFINITELY get sick with some disease that will kill me. So I'm still going to quit anyway, but it does have me a bit scared. Plus, I'm going to die someday anyway, and I would like to live a healthy full life until that time.



And yes, before I quit, I am going to go to a doctor and talk about this theory I've heard and also get some help towards leading a healthier life<myspace>style</myspace>. But have you guys heard this theory, and does it have any truth?

after re-reading my post, I meant to say This *isn't* going to stop me. I'm still going to quit. Even if I do end up getting cancer after I quit.... I might survive it if I quit smoking and commit myself to being healthy and staying alive. But I'm not going to live a long healthy life if I don't quit smoking.



A good friend of mine of 17 years passes away very suddenly on April 18th. His death was very shocking and unexpected, and he was very young (my age.) What I am waiting for is some of the grief to pass before I commit to quitting smoking. I know, it sounds silly, because I don't want to die myself, so I should just get on with it. But I don't want to fail and end up smoking again. I am making serious plans and preparations to quit smoking, and part of this is finding some peace after my friend's death.

Setting a specific date to quit isnt the way to go imo.



Wake up tomorrow and dont smoke - why wake up tomorrow and smoke coz it isnt the 10'th yet?



It will cause undue pressure if you have a deadline, as opposed to just deciding enough is enough.



I fail to see logic in the idea that you may *want* to quit in 3 days time, but "nahhhh, its not my quit day yet so I might aswell have 1"



Im not being picky, im just sayin...

Yeah, maybe that's also like giving myself a set deadline to be done grieving. Which is pretty much a ridiculous notion.



Well I have a plan that I am going to have my mother take care of my son for the first 3 days. I haven't talked to her about it yet though, but I don't think it's a bad idea at all. I used to go every summer when I was a kid and spend a whole week at my grandmother's house and I always loved it, and she always loved having me. And whenever I went to stay at my grandma's house, my parents always used that time to do something they really needed to do without having the kids around. Like one time they moved all our furniture into a bigger house. Anyway, I think it would be easier on both me and my son if I got through the first 48 hours of having cravings alone, and he could be having a blast with his grandma.



I know it sounds silly, but I have tried to just up and quit cold turkey before, and I have failed. I know to quit smoking, I've got to take very serious steps and preparations. If I could just wake up and choose not to smoke, I wouldn't be where I am now. But really, it does all come down to just making that choice not to smoke. But I think the preparations for it are more like supportive reinforcements to keep making that choice. And I think that is what I need is a plan because when I set a date, I need to be ready.



However, you can't overlook the fact that I just lost someone. When I am ready, I am going to quit smoking. But I think it's just ridiculous to picture myself quitting smoking and then going to the cemetery to visit his grave this week and still not smoking. Atleast I am putting realistic expectations on myself of what I can and cannot handle right now.

Why not challenge yourself...



"Im not going to smoke at the cemetary when I go next week"



Wouldnt it be amazing if you managed that?!?!



Or just bring 2 cigarettes as a backup in case you really want one, rather then a whole pack?



Tossing the kids out for a few days is a great idea while you want to focus on your own health for a short period of time.

Marc wrote:

Why not challenge yourself...



"Im not going to smoke at the cemetary when I go next week"



Wouldnt it be amazing if you managed that?!?!



Or just bring 2 cigarettes as a backup in case you really want one, rather then a whole pack?



Tossing the kids out for a few days is a great idea while you want to focus on your own health for a short period of time.

I know I know... and I'm not saying you have bad ideas. It's just I'm more realistic this time and I know what I can and can't do.



Having 2 back up cigarettes is a method I've tried over and over. When I got pregnant, I didn't smoke, but after the baby was born, I picked up smoking again. And people were like "Oh sweetie, I don't blame you, having a baby is really stressful sometimes!" But I felt bad about smoking, so I did the 2 cigarette trick. Like I would hide the pack, and tell myself "These are the only 2 cigarettes I can have for the whole day" Well, I ended up being a 2 a day smoker for 8 months. Then I quit breastfeeding and started smoking more.... pretty soon I had an 18 month old child and was back to a pack a day habit.



You are right, it's all about willpower. But quitting smoking is not the only thing I am trying to do to change my life. My husband and I would like another child in the future, which means we are trying to take care of a lot of things financially right now to prepare ourselves, as well as quitting smoking and eating healthy and exercising to get ready for a pregnancy. I'm also trying to get onstage as a stand-up comedian, I would like to start going to back to college part time and get some of my writing published. Oh and there's my family and my household. So each day is like "This is the goal I'm going to achieve today, in order to prepare for reaching this goal in my future." My plate is pretty full!



So that is why I am setting a date where on that day I will never smoke again. Those first 3 days are going to be as kid-free and stress-free as possible and I'm going to devote those 3 days to my physical and spiritual health.



I know you are just trying to help me and encourage me, but I can already see myself standing at the grave of the man I grew up with who was like a brother to me all my life, and smoking both of those 2 cigarettes at the same time. You are right though, it is about will power and challenging myself. When the day comes, I am going to be sitting in my house and every minutes I am going to be challenging myself to get through each hour and each craving without smoking.

BAA§HAR² [New Era] wrote:

Respectfully disagree!



When I quit smoking ( although I still smoke if Im drunk just to calm my nerves ) I set a quit date, and got some nicotine gum. Whenever I felt the urge to smoke, Id chew some gum for 30 minutes, and it makes the urge go away.



Thing about the gum, is it actually makes cigarettes repulsive to you when youre chewing it regularly. I had dropped both cigarettes and the nicotine gum just 12 days after I set my quit date ( after being a heavy smoker for a year...1 and a half packs a day )



Be prepared to have a short fuse, get headaches, not be able to sleep, and worst of all your cough will worsen immediatly after quitting, I dunno why, but I had the absolute WORST smokers cough the first week after quitting.



But, your teeth will stay nice and white now, your clothes will smell good, you can use the money you would use on cigs to buy yourself something relatively nice and you will feel like you have more energy, and just generally feel like a more healthy person. Its amazing how cigarettes can make you feel sick, and you just get so used to it, you dont even notice. Once you quit you'll see what I mean.



Good luck! Youre one of my favorite fembiats.

Thank you for your compliments. =)



I have been looking at the gum in the aisle's at the store and considered buying a box of the gum. I tried chewing the gum before that a friend was using, and it was really weird cause the gum tasted and felt like really really old juicy fruit. Plus the gum is almost as expensive as a carton of smokes. So I may or may not try using the gum.



What I was thinking of doing is just buying lots of snack foods like carrots, tortilla chips, gum, mints or hard candy... and lots of fruit juice. I have been already taking a vitamin B complex and drinking lots of cranberry and pomegranate juice because it is loaded with anti-oxidants and very healthy for you. I heard the bit about that hacking smokers cough that you get after you quit, but I think I will manage through it somehow. Probably taking a really hot shower or bath would be great because it will help me to sweat out the toxins, and breathe easier and relax my nerves, huh?



And then I just figure to keep my hands and my mind busy with something creative while I get through those first 3 days. There's a lot I could be doing in my yard to stay busy.



Oh yeah, I'm not worried about weight gain at all from quitting smoking and eating all the snacks all the time. Cause as soon as I quit I know I'm going to feel healthier and have more energy to exercise. Plus, I'm very thin anyway and all the women in my family are thin, so I don't think it's in my genetics to become over-weight. A little weight gain shouldn't hurt me at all. So I have no problem snacking all day as opposed to smoking all day.



Question: Did you feel kinda stupid and forgetful when you quit smoking? My sister went smoke-free for 3 weeks, and she said she felt really ADD and like she couldn't concentrate on anything for longer than 30 seconds.

Nah... I don't think 10 pounds would look bad on me. Being a woman, it would probably go into my hips and ass which I don't think my husband would complain about. And then I will probably go work out at the gym with my friend. He just quit drinking and he is like really fucking happy about life now all the time lol. So he goes to the gym and he's lost about 25 lbs in the past month or two. He is really inspiring me to get healthier too.



On Saturdays all the husbands/boyfriends of our groups go play football in the park early in the morning, and I think all us women-folk are going to get together and do things on Saturdays while the boys are ripping each other's limbs off. So it's just about the perfect time of year to get outside and live healthy.



As for the gum... I will probably read the directions carefully or just go without.



And as for being stupid... that seems to be pretty common for guys, my husband and most of my guy friends generally always feel stupid. lol

BAA§HAR² [New Era] wrote:

Holly wrote:

Nah... I don't think 10 pounds would look bad on me. Being a woman, it would probably go into my hips and ass which I don't think my husband would complain about. And then I will probably go work out at the gym with my friend. He just quit drinking and he is like really fucking happy about life now all the time lol. So he goes to the gym and he's lost about 25 lbs in the past month or two. He is really inspiring me to get healthier too.



On Saturdays all the husbands/boyfriends of our groups go play football in the park early in the morning, and I think all us women-folk are going to get together and do things on Saturdays while the boys are ripping each other's limbs off. So it's just about the perfect time of year to get outside and live healthy.



As for the gum... I will probably read the directions carefully or just go without.



And as for being stupid... that seems to be pretty common for guys, my husband and most of my guy friends generally always feel stupid. lol

I didnt say I am stupid, just that I feel stupid and dazed alot of the time.



pickup football is badass, ever since I got out of high school ive been dying to play again. never was really good enough to go to college for it, I got a few offers, but all from really really shitty universities, and it wasnt because I was good, more because I got good exposure at my huge school, and winning titles, and being a "model student". recruiters look at those kinds of things too. its almost impossible to start at Union, and not get some kind of offer, even if its a lower division offer.



and you dont have to do gum. you can do the patch. never tried it, but It might work. I chose gum over the patch because the patch is consistent, and I didnt feel it'd be as effective to battle "urges".



gum hits you hard, when you want it to hit you. i like bein in control of that.



whatever you decide to do, good luck. Im getting offline now cause Im too tired. I talk so much when Im drunk. Im on Myspace forums at 6 am in the morning.



thats fucking ghey.

lol, I didn't mean to say you were stupid, just commenting on feeling stupid.



Yeah, I would prefer the gum over the patch for the same reasons. I don't smoke cigarettes constantly, so why would I want nicotine constantly? I'd rather have gum when I need it, just like how I smoke when I need it.



Yeah, the football thing is awesome for the guys. Although it takes them a day or two to recover. But they love it. I have a really big friend who everyone is scared to tackle or get tackled by lol. But that guy also wanted to play college football, but unfortunately, the high school he went to didn't offer him the exposure he needed to get any offers. In fact, the team he played on blew a mighty one.



Yeah, it's kinda silly being on myspace forums at this time in the morning. Damn insomnia, that's more ghey than being drunk. But goodnight, and I'm sure you'll see this message when you are at work later. =)

Breakin Bonesy© Ver. 4.0 wrote:

1st I am going on my 2nd year in june cold turkey from 2+ packs a day, so far so good. Cold turkey is really the only way to go imo, any other way is just a drawn out torture.

Did you run when you were smoking?

My quit date is ~5/8/07. I'm starting chantix, then I'm gonna lock myself away for a couple of days.

I can't run anymore, maybe 5 or 6 blocks, and I'm wiped.

(Such a pussy....I know)



Send me yor tips for "Quitting without Killing"



Then again, I started in 1973 before most of ya'all were even born.

We used to steal them from the priest and the nuns when I was in junior hi and we got assigned to clean the church, or rectory. We stole the wine too.

Maybe I should sue the church......

Not.



Anyway, I can't find anything on that theory either. Cancer is a result of celluar overgrowth, in general, but it's because they lack the turn off chemicals- the process is interrupted by a "hostage" situation in the cell itself.

I don't know that any of the particular cells in your lungs would stop turning their growth off by lack of exposure to a carcinogen and free radicals, which is what starts the cellular rampage in the first place.

Then again, there's a theory for every conspiracist who wants to sell you something.

Well basically the idea that supports this theory is that the smoker started smoking in early youth. While their lungs were still growing and developing. So in a sense, it's as if they have "trained" the glands in their brain to tell the lungs to over-produce cells. So if you start smoking at age 12 and don't quit until late 20's or after that... your body has been "trained" since puberty to over-produce cells.



Another idea that supports this theory is the length of smoking. The idea is that after so many years (over 10 years is what this theory says) you already have pre-cancerous tissues formed. And that the damage is so extensive that you will never have healthy lungs, and your lungs have essentially "forgotten" how to be healthy lungs.



Also another idea to support this theory is that after smoking so many years of your life, your body chemistry is altered. So without continued smoking, your brain releases chemicals that are intended to rebuild damaged tissue, but instead grow tumors on the pre-cancerous tissue.



Also, I should point out that I heard this from a couple of smokers who had smoked for a long time, but who knows if they were full of shit or not.

Breakin Bonesy© Ver. 4.0 wrote:

Holly wrote:

Well basically the idea that supports this theory is that the smoker started smoking in early youth. While their lungs were still growing and developing. So in a sense, it's as if they have "trained" the glands in their brain to tell the lungs to over-produce cells. So if you start smoking at age 12 and don't quit until late 20's or after that... your body has been "trained" since puberty to over-produce cells.



Another idea that supports this theory is the length of smoking. The idea is that after so many years (over 10 years is what this theory says) you already have pre-cancerous tissues formed. And that the damage is so extensive that you will never have healthy lungs, and your lungs have essentially "forgotten" how to be healthy lungs.



Also another idea to support this theory is that after smoking so many years of your life, your body chemistry is altered. So without continued smoking, your brain releases chemicals that are intended to rebuild damaged tissue, but instead grow tumors on the pre-cancerous tissue.



Also, I should point out that I heard this from a couple of smokers who had smoked for a long time, but who knows if they were full of shit or not.

the theory is absolute bullshit, but you can believe whatever you want. the choice is yours you an tell yourself what ever you want to hear but I am 100% positive that this is untrue.

Geez! I didn't say I believed it. In the OP I asked if it carried any truth at all or if it was all urban legend. Meaning I doubted it in the first place, but I was curious if this theory stems from any possible or partial truth.



It think it's just grand that you jump on people who are smokers and want to quit very badly and are just trying to find out different opinions and stories from other smokers who have quit. Because that's exactly what someone in my position needs.



If you think getting people's opinions is so sad, why are you in the forums?

... wrote:

BAA§HAR² [New Era] wrote:

I ran track and smoked weed every day lol.



Never really affected me, and I was born with premature lungs. I was on steroids as a kid to help develop them or something

you got lucky







smokers are idiots

reality check: almost everyone has a vice or a bad habit. It might not be a addictive substance, but it can still be harmful.



You are an asshole for calling all smokers idiots. There's a lot worse things than being a smoker, trust me.