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Have you tried to quit smoking while undergoing treatment?

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Jun 7, 2018

The decision to quit smoking is a very personal one. Everyone has his or her own reason that helps start the journey to quit smoking. The diagnosis of a serious illness or chronic condition, like cancer, a heart condition, lung condition, diabetes, might be one reason to quit smoking as part of treatment and recovery.

Are you currently undergoing treatment for a serious illness or chronic condition, or are you a survivor of a serious illness who made the decision to quit smoking while undergoing treatment? If yes, and you feel comfortable doing so, please share the experience of your journey to quit smoking.

Thank you for sharing your experiences anonymously in the online survey. The survey is now closed.

However you can continue to share your experiences here in an open discussion with other members. Your story can help others on their journey to quit smoking.
- Did you decide to quit while undergoing treatment? Why or why not?
- What uncertainties or challenges did you face?
- How did your care providers support you to quit smoking? How could they have supported you differently or better?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer Support Group.

bluelagoon | @bluelagoon | Jan 27, 2020
In reply to @metalneck "I last smoked January 2, 2020, the morning of my lobectomy. I am taking Chantix twice..." + (show)
@metalneck

I last smoked January 2, 2020, the morning of my lobectomy. I am taking Chantix twice a day. The urge to smoke has been intense at times - at other times it's easy to shrug off. When it gets intense I get a spearmint flavored mint and it helps. I also do mind tricks on myself (similar to biofeedback) where I imagine things, daydream or talk myself out of the cigarette. I applaud everyone that has quit cold turkey!! For those of us who don't do so well with that, I would enjoy reading on how you've done it/are doing it!

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@metalneck @cinder I so relate to both of you. The good news is I'm 2 weeks to the day away from getting to my 4 year Quit Smoking anniversary. And, although I still enjoy walking past someone smoking a cigarette I now think smoky rooms stink and have no interest in smoking. The realistic news is a friend told me it took him 6 months to get over the hump. I hoped that wouldn't be my case, but it was. I underestimated how helpful Chantix was since the urge was, as you say, intense at times. But, don't let anyone tell you that you can just stop the Chantix without weaning off it, like you built it up. After 4 months when I just stopped I gained the most of my weight and had major urges to the point of being miserable. The doc renewed my script and after a couple more weeks when I drew down slowly I did fine from there. Interesting to me was that I never thought of after a meal as my biggest need but to this day, if I don't have a wintergreen lifesaver on hand things could get dicey!

As far as mind games- try to get your hands on Allen Carr's book "Easy Way To Stop Smoking." My dentist told me how one of her patients had success when she read and I then did, too. He makes a great case for how we were hypnotized into smoking (as opposed to going to a hypnotist to stop smoking.) He built a case for my mind to wrap around, and along with Chantix and the will to persevere, that was the ticket. And, once you get to the other side where you don't stress about needing to get where you can smoke after being stuck somewhere too long is so freeing. Hang in there!

REPLY
1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 28, 2020
In reply to @metalneck "I last smoked January 2, 2020, the morning of my lobectomy. I am taking Chantix twice..." + (show)
@metalneck

I last smoked January 2, 2020, the morning of my lobectomy. I am taking Chantix twice a day. The urge to smoke has been intense at times - at other times it's easy to shrug off. When it gets intense I get a spearmint flavored mint and it helps. I also do mind tricks on myself (similar to biofeedback) where I imagine things, daydream or talk myself out of the cigarette. I applaud everyone that has quit cold turkey!! For those of us who don't do so well with that, I would enjoy reading on how you've done it/are doing it!

Jump to this post

@metalneck I am an all or nothing person. For me, cold-turkey was the only way to go.
JK

REPLY
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 31, 2020
In reply to @bluelagoon "@metalneck @cinder I so relate to both of you. The good news is I'm 2 weeks..." + (show)
@bluelagoon

@metalneck @cinder I so relate to both of you. The good news is I'm 2 weeks to the day away from getting to my 4 year Quit Smoking anniversary. And, although I still enjoy walking past someone smoking a cigarette I now think smoky rooms stink and have no interest in smoking. The realistic news is a friend told me it took him 6 months to get over the hump. I hoped that wouldn't be my case, but it was. I underestimated how helpful Chantix was since the urge was, as you say, intense at times. But, don't let anyone tell you that you can just stop the Chantix without weaning off it, like you built it up. After 4 months when I just stopped I gained the most of my weight and had major urges to the point of being miserable. The doc renewed my script and after a couple more weeks when I drew down slowly I did fine from there. Interesting to me was that I never thought of after a meal as my biggest need but to this day, if I don't have a wintergreen lifesaver on hand things could get dicey!

As far as mind games- try to get your hands on Allen Carr's book "Easy Way To Stop Smoking." My dentist told me how one of her patients had success when she read and I then did, too. He makes a great case for how we were hypnotized into smoking (as opposed to going to a hypnotist to stop smoking.) He built a case for my mind to wrap around, and along with Chantix and the will to persevere, that was the ticket. And, once you get to the other side where you don't stress about needing to get where you can smoke after being stuck somewhere too long is so freeing. Hang in there!

Jump to this post

@bluelagoon-Hello and good morning! What a success story for you! Congratulations. It was 22 years this past year since I quit smoking. It definitely was one of the hardest things that I have ever done. It takes a lot of determination for sure. What helped me the most was developing a mantra that I would say over and over until I had control. My mantra came from my husband who said to me, "If you smoke, you will die."
I connected this with just having been through a lobectomy for lung cancer and a question to myself- Why did I chose to go through this operation? If I didn't have the operation I would die, so I chose to live. By choosing to live that meant no smoking.
Getting in the right frame of mind might be the key! WHat has been your frame of mind- your preparedness to quit smoking?

REPLY
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Feb 9, 2020
In reply to @metalneck "I last smoked January 2, 2020, the morning of my lobectomy. I am taking Chantix twice..." + (show)
@metalneck

I last smoked January 2, 2020, the morning of my lobectomy. I am taking Chantix twice a day. The urge to smoke has been intense at times - at other times it's easy to shrug off. When it gets intense I get a spearmint flavored mint and it helps. I also do mind tricks on myself (similar to biofeedback) where I imagine things, daydream or talk myself out of the cigarette. I applaud everyone that has quit cold turkey!! For those of us who don't do so well with that, I would enjoy reading on how you've done it/are doing it!

Jump to this post

@metalneck- I quit smoking a week before my surgery in 1997. It was extremely difficult. It looks as if you have a system set up for dealing with the urges. You might want to look at this group for help too: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/have-you-tried-to-quit-smoking-while-undergoing-treatment/ Hang in there! You can do this!

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antelope | @antelope | Feb 17, 2020

quit 1 month ago,difficult but doable,basically it was a reaction to worrying about making a fuss bout pc while smoking,jus plain dumb

REPLY
1 reply
shortshot80 | @shortshot80 | Feb 17, 2020

from Nancy (shortshot) 1975 I was to have surgery next morning, the doc came inn and told me I would have a better chance of coming our of anesthesia if I put the cigarette out. I put it out and NEVER picked up another one. I did have any trouble quitting at all. I Just did it! I had smoked for probably 15 years. Never again. Nancy

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2 replies
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Feb 17, 2020
In reply to @shortshot80 "from Nancy (shortshot) 1975 I was to have surgery next morning, the doc came inn and..." + (show)
@shortshot80

from Nancy (shortshot) 1975 I was to have surgery next morning, the doc came inn and told me I would have a better chance of coming our of anesthesia if I put the cigarette out. I put it out and NEVER picked up another one. I did have any trouble quitting at all. I Just did it! I had smoked for probably 15 years. Never again. Nancy

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@shortshot80 That is a great report, Nancy!

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Feb 18, 2020
In reply to @shortshot80 "from Nancy (shortshot) 1975 I was to have surgery next morning, the doc came inn and..." + (show)
@shortshot80

from Nancy (shortshot) 1975 I was to have surgery next morning, the doc came inn and told me I would have a better chance of coming our of anesthesia if I put the cigarette out. I put it out and NEVER picked up another one. I did have any trouble quitting at all. I Just did it! I had smoked for probably 15 years. Never again. Nancy

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@shortshot80- Oh how lucky you were! I never smoked again after I quit, after 35 years. It can be done!

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 23, 2020
In reply to @antelope "quit 1 month ago,difficult but doable,basically it was a reaction to worrying about making a fuss..." + (show)
@antelope

quit 1 month ago,difficult but doable,basically it was a reaction to worrying about making a fuss bout pc while smoking,jus plain dumb

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@antelope @cinder and @metalneck. Checking in. How are you doing?

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Feb 24, 2020
In reply to @cinder "I quit in October of 2019. Very hard. I still miss it. But not enough to..." + (show)
@cinder

I quit in October of 2019. Very hard. I still miss it. But not enough to smoke. I have gained weight. Finally have started feeling better. Think of all the money you save and treat yourself. Good for you. I know how you are feeling.

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@metalneck-Good morning. You will be starting the beginning of your third month of not smoking. How are you feeling? What are you finding helps you during the roughest parts of withdrawal?

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