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If you’re making your plan to quit smoking as part of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout in November, join Drs. J. Taylor Hays and David Midthun as they talk live about lung cancer screening, tobacco dependence treatments and a new study for those who want to quit smoking.
Learn more about:
- Lung cancer screening
- Smoking cessation
- New study on the effectiveness of increased communication in helping individuals quit smoking
Drs. J. Taylor Hays and David Midthun will answer questions live. Post your question below before or during the broadcast.
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Lorraine..... very good question. This is what I was given as an answer by my pulmonologist ....... Around the age of 25 you reach your peak of lung function. From there on they slowly lose effectiveness...FOR EVERYONE. If you smoke, work at a job with lots of pollution, live with a person that does smoke and you don't, your lungs will deteriorate at a faster pace..... almost the day you change that condition your lungs will revert back to the healthier slope of deterioration... but of course you have already done irreparable damage to them. This is why in EVERY list of suggestive treatments for COPD the very first suggestion is to QUIT SMOKING. I actually quit smoking by laser treatments, prior to being diagnosed with COPD. This method, I was told was 87% effective, so I asked what about the 13%? The answer was 3% there is no explanation BUT the other 10% can easily be explained that the person had not decided to quit. In other words they were gonna try to see if it worked. Trying is not doing. When you are diagnosed with COPD..... YOU HAVE LOST THAT PATHWAY.... YOU MUST, MUST, MUST QUIT..... OR DIE!
Hi @llwortman It must of been a scary experience with your lung cancer, I am sorry to hear that!! Much more advanced now in technology and knowledge, I am not American but Canadian and the hospitals here in my town are a bit chaotic and would not want to be sick enough to go into a hospital. I am not saying that for all hospitals, I love our health care system and it takes care of the elderly as well for free. Paying 15% in taxes seems ideal when your sick and need meds etc. We do get a refund by the amount of money we make for the year. Anyways...
Both of my parents died of cancer and it was a horrible experience. My mother died when I was 20 and father when I was 36 and I am going to be 65 in a month or so. I am a breast cancer survivor as well. COPD is scary for me. I live alone and my brother is older than me by 3 yrs.
I am glad to hear you survived lung cancer linda!! That's wonderful.
Thanks for your response/ Happy Holidays
Correction: It is medicinenet NOT medicalnet... sorry about that!
@desirea Join us on the EX Community: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/become-an-ex-smoker/
Hi everyone ..Was diagnosed 2021 COPD- I took my last smoke the night before my second ER visit where I spent a week in hospital . Of course not thinking of anything but breathing I was not thinking of a cigarette & I was a 2 pack a day smoker . I tried about 10 years ago to quit but it was emotionally terrible . This latest ER visit scared me so bad I honestly said I am not going back to cigarettes'...I swapped that habit out for star bright peppermint candies and this is going on 4 months smoke free. I have been around a few smokers and not a problem . It was the fear of not breathing plus being confined a week in hospital that I think worked for me plus I just try not thinking about it .I know it is tough , I wish it were an easy way for those who wish to quit . I am making it and I love my cigarettes' but they damaged me . I am stages 2-3 in COPD . Blessings to everyone .