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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.

virgo1952 | @virgo1952 | Apr 4, 2020

That’s a great story Going outside to smoke while being in the hospital seems idiotic to non-smokers. You quit, so I know, others can. With any addiction, others are hurt also by your decisions. What a relief not to smoke, huh? Congratulations.....

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virgo1952 | @virgo1952 | Apr 4, 2020
In reply to @kowalski "That's the quit day." + (show)
@kowalski

That's the quit day.

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I’ll mark my calendar and give you a “ you can do it” that day! Because you can good luck

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JK | @contentandwell | Apr 4, 2020
In reply to @danab "Hi to all trying to Quit, I know how tough it is. For me i was..." + (show)
@danab

Hi to all trying to Quit, I know how tough it is. For me i was finally convinced to quit when one day 5 Oct 2011 after 30 years of smoking. I was hospitalized from an arrhythmia attack and my pacemaker had to shock me back from certain death. But me being optimistic that it couldn't be from smoking. So here I am in the hospital and begging the Drs and nurses to let me go outside and have a cigarette. Against Medical advice they let me. Well, I did it and took a few puffs then tried to go back to my room and was having problems breathing. The clincher for me was when I got into bed and put the finger probe back on and my O2 level was like 81. It was that moment by the Grace of God he convinced me I was being stupid. That was the last cigarette I ever had. And I'm glad I did because 6 years later I would probably not been approved to receive the heart I have now. So after leaving the hospital after quitting whenever I got the urge, I would eat pistachios. They say if you can take your mind off of the urge for 5 minutes the urge goes away. So the act of de-shelling the nut and eating it worked for me. Plus I believe a lot of help from God. And the reward was worth it all. No more fretting about long plane rides, I get to see the whole movie in a theater. And the biggest plus is my kids were so happy that I didn't smell anymore or that their friends didn't complain about smelling like smoke at school. I don't remember how long it took before I did not have the urge anymore but after about 6 months it turned into a challenge that if I start back up now I lost all that time. Good luck and you will love the new one.

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@danab Your story about going outside to smoke when you were in the hospital reminded me of when I was in my early 20s. I had whooping cough and was living at my mother's house - it lasted for a month. When she went out to do errands I would have a cigarette! Of course that would bring on a fit of coughing. How stupid were both of us? Crazy!
JK

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lynann99 | @lynann99 | Apr 5, 2020

I am having chemo treatments every 3 weeks indefinitely, i have ovarian cancer thats so stubborn it keeps coming back.im on a few diffetents meds fir it and now,my primary care doctor just prescribed Chantex...not sure of the spelling. Anyone else take this stuff to quit smoking while undergoing chemo?

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1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 5, 2020
In reply to @lynann99 "I am having chemo treatments every 3 weeks indefinitely, i have ovarian cancer thats so stubborn..." + (show)
@lynann99

I am having chemo treatments every 3 weeks indefinitely, i have ovarian cancer thats so stubborn it keeps coming back.im on a few diffetents meds fir it and now,my primary care doctor just prescribed Chantex...not sure of the spelling. Anyone else take this stuff to quit smoking while undergoing chemo?

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@lynann99- Welcome to Mayo Connect. How are you doing with Chantix? It's a popular drug to help with nicotine.

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1 reply
lynann99 | @lynann99 | Apr 5, 2020
In reply to @merpreb "@lynann99- Welcome to Mayo Connect. How are you doing with Chantix? It's a popular drug to..." + (show)
@merpreb

@lynann99- Welcome to Mayo Connect. How are you doing with Chantix? It's a popular drug to help with nicotine.

Jump to this post

I have not started it yet

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1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 16, 2020
In reply to @merpreb "@kowalski- When I finally decided that I had messed around with quitting and it was time..." + (show)
@merpreb

@kowalski- When I finally decided that I had messed around with quitting and it was time to get off the can I also set a date. Mine was a week. It gives you time to give yourself pep talks and think about all of the positive benefits. Yes, it's tough. I'm sure that you have handled tough things before. Depend on those as inspiration to get you through the difficult ones. How have you handled tough times before?

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Good morning @kowalski- Yesterday was D day for you. How are you doing today?

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1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 16, 2020
In reply to @lynann99 "I have not started it yet" + (show)
@lynann99

I have not started it yet

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@lynann99- Good morning. How are you doing with your decison to quit smoking? Do you have a D day?

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1 reply
virgo1952 | @virgo1952 | Apr 16, 2020

@kowalski good morning. I set my calendar to give my support after your last entry stating your quit day would be 4/15. It’s a hard thing to do. I hope you hanging in there. virgo

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lynann99 | @lynann99 | Apr 16, 2020
In reply to @merpreb "@lynann99- Good morning. How are you doing with your decison to quit smoking? Do you have..." + (show)
@merpreb

@lynann99- Good morning. How are you doing with your decison to quit smoking? Do you have a D day?

Jump to this post

I stopped yesterday so far so good. Trying it without using any meds like Chantex or nicotine patches, etc. 🙂

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