COPD and Can’t Commit to Quitting Smoking

Thanks for reading and commenting on that post @dennis287 .
Just for fun last month when I was at the grocery store, I checked out the price on my former favorite brand of cigarettes.
They were $10/pack.
At a pack/day that's $3650 a year. This year, on January 8th, will be my eight years quit date.

You say in 2026 (I assume you meant 2025 since today is only the 4th day of 2026) you spend no less than $7200/year?
You also say you are a 2X cancer survivor.
That's a blessing and a gift. I'm not sure where your cancer(s) were, but I bet the treatments you went through on that journey were not easy.
No cancer treatment is without suffering.
Yet here you are!
I am not sure what you meant by your "now your mindset is What the Hell" after all you've been through...do you mean despite surviving cancer twice, you still smoke?
OR do you mean after smoking for 45 years you quit and STILL got cancer?

We are all so different @dennis287, and each one of us gets to decide what we will do with our gift of this life.
Where are you in your smoking career? Still at it? Or finally quit?

My win recently was being at high altitude and not having as much difficulty breathing going up and downstairs. I haven’t had a cigarette in almost a year. Well, that’s a lie…..I had one several months back and felt that I “felt” it the next day. A good reminder to never try that again.

@ karukgirl I am 80. I started smoking in 1963. I quit smoking in 2002. I was diagnosed with stage 4 Emphysema in June of 2023. .. Born 1945 .
18 years without cigarettes , then 39 years with cigarettes .
then 21 years of no cigarettes.
Then 2 1/2
years on 24/7 oxygen.
That is my smoking story .

I'm still trying to quit after 42 years. You would think that my spirometry testing shows only 40% lung capacity would have really made me stop quickly but yet it still hasn't everyday is a struggle and I have absolutely no one and I mean no one to blame but myself!

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect @dbcooper ,
I smoked for 42+ years myself!
I NEVER thought I could quit. I really didn't want too. I enjoyed it so much.
I also knew, like every smoker does...and doesn't it irritate you when goodhearted, non-smoking folks ask you..."Don't you know how you're hurting yourself? Don't you want to live longer? Don't you know how much money you could save?" Those people!
It would be so irritating.
Of course I know! I remained calm outside...but inside these people irritated the heck out of me!
Go away please!
We all know smoking is horrible. We know what can happen. But we do it anyway.
I started out with a goal that I wanted to quit by my 60th.
One month before my birthday I actually started finding myself anxious about this looming quit date. I was dreading in fact. I hated that it was coming up so fast.
Then I got sick on January 7th. I smoked a cigarette but it was awful. The next day I had another, even though I was sick (this should tell you how badly addicting nicotine is if you can smoke and be sick too) and it was awful.
It was my last one.
I have not smoked since. I thanked God for making me sick, because I don't think I would have been able to without the coexisting cold I had.
I went two days.
Then a week.
Then two weeks became a month.
A month turned to half a year and I think that was the turning point.
I realized one day, hey...I didn't even think about a cigarette today.
Once I decided this was my opportunity to quit, I bought a great book that was SO helpful to me. Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking. I was fascinated by how nicotine works, how highly addictive it is, and what I could do to lose this rotten addiction for good.
I also went to the Dollar Store and got a lot of bags of hot cinnamon candies.
When I wanted a smoke, I'd unwrap one of these instead. I carried them everywhere.
Over time I didn't need them anymore either.
The easiest way to quit smoking is the ONE THAT WORKS FOR YOU!
Don't give up.
Try harder. This little monster inside your head is something you can beat.
You only lose if you don't try! And sometimes failure leads to success.
Nobody understands like a smoker, and I totally understand.
Have you ever heard of the Allen Carr book?

I've been reading the Allen Carr book for 3 years. Just can't get through it.

Hi @blhardin and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.
Not every book is for everyone. We are all so different. That's why I say the only way to quit smoking is the one that works for you!
The reason I liked the book so much is the psychology behind addiction. It was fascinating to me, and I really like the visual image Allen Carr painted using the little monster inside your brain commanding you to smoke.
I also like learning about how nicotine addiction is so different than others and the physical addiction to them is such a tiny part. Practically none...it's all in our heads.
The withdrawal from nicotine is very mild physically. It does not hardly register. Whereas in alcohol addiction, you have real physical withdrawals that you can actually die from.
I'm glad to hear that you have at least tried to read his book.
Are there any other sources you have tried to learn from about quitting smoking that you can share?
Are you still smoking?

I am still smoking. I've tried various prescription meds. Antidepressants. Apps. Books. Websites. Facebook groups. Nicotine replacement (gum, patches, toothpicks .. ) Acupuncture. Pneumonia. Meditation. Hypnotherapy. I did quit, probably 12 years ago.. actually several times.. as recently as 3 months ago.. and here I am. I think, for me, it's a matter of just saying no - and I have to get up and do something - and don't answer the door when a heavy smoker comes to visit. I have thrown away all smoking paraphernalia. I've smoked right down to nothing; then get that anxiety that I don't have any. It's psychological, I'm sure. I think I just need to quit. Sunshine and fresh air helps immensely.

I finally quit after 42 years and a couple attempts. I used the patch and gum. I then vaped for about 5 years. What helped me was having an “argument” with the stupid nicotine receptors in my brain. I knew they would come alive and I was ready for the fight. I felt them and just told them what I think. Then I gave them a karate chop in the air. It seemed to work. I still use the gum, but it is giving me stomach issues like now I had esophagitis and now I have a hiatal hernia and gerd.

@dbcooper I smoked cigarettes for 39 years. I quit smoking in 2002. It is now 24 years since I quit. . Very good huh ? BUT, in 2023 I was diagnosed with stage 4 Emphysema. I have now been dragging an oxygen line around for almost 3 years .
Here is an example for you . My Grandaughter is smoking . When we speak to her about it , she says “ Oh, I am only going to smoke for 15 years . Then I will stop so I don’t get any lung disease . “ I think each of us needs to figure it out for ourself. I have stopped giving anyone advice about it . Smoke or don’t , it is your harvest. Blessed Be, Crystalena.