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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.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Feb 26, 2020
In reply to @meka "It is doable!! It's still a struggle to find a way to keep my hands busy,..." + (show)
@meka

It is doable!! It's still a struggle to find a way to keep my hands busy, using crossword puzzles, games, weights, reading, whatever!!

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Hello @meka- How long ago did you quit? Why did you quit? It is doable. I was a very heavy smoker and I quit, almost cold turkey. One thing, before I quit, was to wonder what I would do instead. I found out that I do everything else other than smoke!

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1 reply
meka | @meka | Feb 25, 2020
In reply to @merpreb "@metalneck-Good morning. You will be starting the beginning of your third month of not smoking. How..." + (show)
@merpreb

@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?

Jump to this post

It is doable!! It's still a struggle to find a way to keep my hands busy, using crossword puzzles, games, weights, reading, whatever!!

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1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Feb 24, 2020

@antelope- Good morning. I'm wondering how you are feeling after 1 month off of cigarettes. What changes have you seen in your body?

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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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1 reply
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 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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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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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
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

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1 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!

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@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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