HumanChimney
08-17-2003, 10:37 AM
Hello, Im new here.
I have been a smoker since I was 17. I am 32 years old now - so I've been going at it for 15 years.
I know I am doomed to lung cancer. What I was wondering is this - is there a length of smoking time in years doctors go by where they will just tell you to keep smoking because its too late? I would like to at least try to improve my cardiovascular health with the few remaining years I have left before my lungs turn cancerous.
If anybody knows such a benchmark in a smoker's history Id appreciate it. I figure it would be around 10 years and I have already passed it, but Im not sure. Thanks!
The Human Chimney
I have been a smoker since I was 17. I am 32 years old now - so I've been going at it for 15 years.
I know I am doomed to lung cancer. What I was wondering is this - is there a length of smoking time in years doctors go by where they will just tell you to keep smoking because its too late? I would like to at least try to improve my cardiovascular health with the few remaining years I have left before my lungs turn cancerous.
If anybody knows such a benchmark in a smoker's history Id appreciate it. I figure it would be around 10 years and I have already passed it, but Im not sure. Thanks!
The Human Chimney
Sponsor
luke1
08-18-2003, 01:02 AM
The answer is NO, it‘s never too late. Even seniors can benefit from stopping smoking. You seem concerned about lung cancer, but there are more health problems than just cancer. Everyone who smokes or who has smoked will develop Emphysema to one degree or another. Chronic Bronchitis is another one. It’s almost a sure bet that people who continue to smoke will end up with Heart Disease.
You can greatly improve your health and extend your life span if you quit smoking. I recommend you start planning your quit date and come up with a plan you think you can stick with. There are a lot of aides available, nicotine patches, gum, medications like Zyban, and others. There is information on the web and plenty of books to help you. You also have the support from all of us here at the HealthBoard.
I am an EX-smoker and I do know how hard it is to quit, but I also know that it can be done. I stopped five years and besides all the health benefits I feel great. To date I have saved $15,000 by stopping smoking.
Good luck!
You can greatly improve your health and extend your life span if you quit smoking. I recommend you start planning your quit date and come up with a plan you think you can stick with. There are a lot of aides available, nicotine patches, gum, medications like Zyban, and others. There is information on the web and plenty of books to help you. You also have the support from all of us here at the HealthBoard.
I am an EX-smoker and I do know how hard it is to quit, but I also know that it can be done. I stopped five years and besides all the health benefits I feel great. To date I have saved $15,000 by stopping smoking.
Good luck!
HumanChimney
08-18-2003, 01:51 AM
Thank you for the reply.
I know there are other health concerns related to smoking. I didn't know though that every smoker will develop Emphysema. Do you know the average in years how long? Ive been smoking for 15 years. Does Emphysema set in before the Lung Cancer does?
All of this is greatly discouraging. It seems a bit pointless to quit. Middle-age life with Emphysema and Lung Cancer doesn't seem all that attractive.
But perhaps if I can salvage a few years by quitting and avoiding a heart attack, then I guess its worth it, right?
Anyone know the average age (or in terms of smoking years) when you come down with the Emphysema? I'd like to know how much longer I have until things get ugly.
Thanks again.
I know there are other health concerns related to smoking. I didn't know though that every smoker will develop Emphysema. Do you know the average in years how long? Ive been smoking for 15 years. Does Emphysema set in before the Lung Cancer does?
All of this is greatly discouraging. It seems a bit pointless to quit. Middle-age life with Emphysema and Lung Cancer doesn't seem all that attractive.
But perhaps if I can salvage a few years by quitting and avoiding a heart attack, then I guess its worth it, right?
Anyone know the average age (or in terms of smoking years) when you come down with the Emphysema? I'd like to know how much longer I have until things get ugly.
Thanks again.
GeorgiaPeech
08-18-2003, 11:05 AM
NO IT IS NEVER TOO LATE to reap benefits of stopping smoking. Sure, the longer you smoke, the more likely you are to get the diseases that smoking causes. Lung cancer, for example, is directly dose-related. Doctors figure it in "pack years", e.g. 2 packs a day for 10 years is 20 "pack years", 1 pack a day for 30 years is 30 pack years, etc.
And, remember, everyone who smoked doesn't necessarily get lung cancer. But those who never smoked rarely get it. And those who stopped smoking greatly reduce their likelihood of developing it. And those who smoked and continue to smoke are at greatly increased risk of developing it. Lung cancer is more efficient in some ways than emphysema. Lung cancer kills you rather quickly; emphysema makes you wish you were dead.
Also please note that the risk of developing other smoking-related diseases such as heart disease goes down almost immediately when you quit smoking. So there are immediate benefits that start within minutes after quitting, and it just gets better and better, the longer you refrain from smoking.
Best of luck with your quit.
And, remember, everyone who smoked doesn't necessarily get lung cancer. But those who never smoked rarely get it. And those who stopped smoking greatly reduce their likelihood of developing it. And those who smoked and continue to smoke are at greatly increased risk of developing it. Lung cancer is more efficient in some ways than emphysema. Lung cancer kills you rather quickly; emphysema makes you wish you were dead.
Also please note that the risk of developing other smoking-related diseases such as heart disease goes down almost immediately when you quit smoking. So there are immediate benefits that start within minutes after quitting, and it just gets better and better, the longer you refrain from smoking.
Best of luck with your quit.
tilly2
08-18-2003, 04:59 PM
How on earth can lung cancer be directly dose related? That would not explain how someone can smoke for 50 years and not get it, but some who smoke for 10 will. It also takes away any motivation for quitting for someone who is within the 'pack year' danger zone.
I think it's really dangerous to put forward that kind of information. It is hard enough to quit smoking thinking you are doomed. Human Chimney, there are many people who have quit smoking much later in life than you that did NOT develop lung cancer or emphysema. Please don't listen to anyone or anything that says it is inevitable. But if you don't stop soon your chances will definetly go up. And you know what, it's really not that bad. Give it a try.
I think it's really dangerous to put forward that kind of information. It is hard enough to quit smoking thinking you are doomed. Human Chimney, there are many people who have quit smoking much later in life than you that did NOT develop lung cancer or emphysema. Please don't listen to anyone or anything that says it is inevitable. But if you don't stop soon your chances will definetly go up. And you know what, it's really not that bad. Give it a try.
GeorgiaPeech
08-18-2003, 09:08 PM
"The risk of developing any of the smoking-related cancers is dose-related; that is, the more cigarettes consumed daily, the younger the age at which one initiates smoking, and the more years one smokes, the greater the risk."
This, From the Smoking and Tobacco Control Program, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
http://rex.nci.nih.gov/NCI_Pub_Interface/raterisk/risks67.html
I am not making this up.
This, From the Smoking and Tobacco Control Program, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
http://rex.nci.nih.gov/NCI_Pub_Interface/raterisk/risks67.html
I am not making this up.
Redhead23
08-19-2003, 05:07 AM
Georgia, yes of course the RISK is dose-related, but like ALL cancer, lung cancer is a GENETIC disease. As such whether or not you get it depends not only on what you are exposed to (and [active or passive] smoking is by FAR not the only thing that damages your lung tissue!), but also your genetic make-up.
Mutations in your DNA, some of which CAN turn cells cancerous, happen all the time. In a healthy human body however, these mutations are detected and eliminated by your immune system and in-built control mechanisms in your cells' replication mechanism.
The older you get the more mutations you get (more toxins accumulate in your body, longer exposition to natural background radiation, pollution etc.), and the less capable is your body of detecting and fixing those mutations (decrease in immune system's capability).
In most cases we still don't fully understand how cancer really works or what decides who gets and doesn't get cancer - there are however certain genetic weaknesses and mutations (which you are born with) that can predispose you for certain types (by tissue) of cancer, making it more likely that you will or won't develop cancer in a certain tissue (many of those cases are people who get cancer early in life - before 45 say - and have not been exposed to any extreme situations like asbestos poisoning, radiation etc.).
Even in strong smokers it is rare to get lung cancer before the age of 45-50, so being in your thirties you still have plenty of time to let your lungs repair themselves.
We're all different and our bodies have differing strengths and weaknesses, so nobody can say for sure that someone who smokes X packs for Y years WILL or WON'T get lung cancer or emphysema etc.
What they CAN say is that you are increasing your CHANCES of developing these illnesses the longer you are exposed to such risk factors. Some things, like natural background radiation (and depending on where you live/work, pollution etc.) are not something we can do very much about, but smoking, drinking liquor etc. ARE things we can avoid or at least moderate.
I'm not saying you're guaranteed to avoid lung cancer or emphysema but the sooner you DO stop, the sooner your body can start repairing itself, decreasing your chances of developing such illnesses!
Mutations in your DNA, some of which CAN turn cells cancerous, happen all the time. In a healthy human body however, these mutations are detected and eliminated by your immune system and in-built control mechanisms in your cells' replication mechanism.
The older you get the more mutations you get (more toxins accumulate in your body, longer exposition to natural background radiation, pollution etc.), and the less capable is your body of detecting and fixing those mutations (decrease in immune system's capability).
In most cases we still don't fully understand how cancer really works or what decides who gets and doesn't get cancer - there are however certain genetic weaknesses and mutations (which you are born with) that can predispose you for certain types (by tissue) of cancer, making it more likely that you will or won't develop cancer in a certain tissue (many of those cases are people who get cancer early in life - before 45 say - and have not been exposed to any extreme situations like asbestos poisoning, radiation etc.).
Even in strong smokers it is rare to get lung cancer before the age of 45-50, so being in your thirties you still have plenty of time to let your lungs repair themselves.
We're all different and our bodies have differing strengths and weaknesses, so nobody can say for sure that someone who smokes X packs for Y years WILL or WON'T get lung cancer or emphysema etc.
What they CAN say is that you are increasing your CHANCES of developing these illnesses the longer you are exposed to such risk factors. Some things, like natural background radiation (and depending on where you live/work, pollution etc.) are not something we can do very much about, but smoking, drinking liquor etc. ARE things we can avoid or at least moderate.
I'm not saying you're guaranteed to avoid lung cancer or emphysema but the sooner you DO stop, the sooner your body can start repairing itself, decreasing your chances of developing such illnesses!
r3qtpis
09-05-2003, 01:09 PM
My father smoked 2-3 packs a day for 50 yrs, only quit 2 x for a few days in that period of time. He laid them down about 5 years ago. No sign of emphysema or cancer, slight heart disease but not bad for a man his age. It's never too late! That's the addiction looking for a reason to make you keep it up! Good luck, remember you are in control!
MomOf4PreciousHearts
09-08-2003, 09:52 PM
I got lung cancer at age of 38. They cut out part of one lung. I was told by one doctor it was rare for anyone under age of 40 to get it. Since then - two years ago - I've met LOTS of people in their 30s and 40s with lung cancer. LOTS. Not one or two - LOTS. Most are women and most do not make it.
Most are not discovered in early stage. Lung cancer has no real symptoms, other than bronchitis sometimes, early on - usually nothing until way late in the course of the disease.
I had the mindset - before I got lung cancer - that only people like 50, 60, 70 got it - that if you quit by the time you were 40 or 50 you'd be okay.
Women get lung cancer earlier. Do some searching online - you'll find plenty. I was horrified to learn what I learned.
If I knew at age of 33 - what I know now - I'd have quit at 33. If I'd known as a teenager that many people die in their 30s and 40s of lung cancer, I'd never started. I was given the impression it didn't happen until 60 or 70 or something.
Mine was discovered early stage - only a tiny percentage are discovered early stage. That's one advantage to finding it early - it can be removed and you have a good chance of survival - if it hasn't spread. That's a rare thing to find - early stage lung cancer - but can be found with cat scan. Xray doesn't show anything until it's been there a year or two often, but cat scan can show it when it is tiny. Ask a doctor.
I've survived almost 2 years now - I have 4 children - youngest just turned 4. Doctors think I might live to raise my children. I hope so.
Quitting smoking is just about the most important thing you can do for your health - even when you already have lung cancer - there are great benefits. My world has been much much nicer - I never dreamed it could be nice like this - without cigarettes. I thought I would die without cigarettes. I'm thrilled to discover a brand new freedom without them.
Smoking is like sucking on a loaded gun.
Most are not discovered in early stage. Lung cancer has no real symptoms, other than bronchitis sometimes, early on - usually nothing until way late in the course of the disease.
I had the mindset - before I got lung cancer - that only people like 50, 60, 70 got it - that if you quit by the time you were 40 or 50 you'd be okay.
Women get lung cancer earlier. Do some searching online - you'll find plenty. I was horrified to learn what I learned.
If I knew at age of 33 - what I know now - I'd have quit at 33. If I'd known as a teenager that many people die in their 30s and 40s of lung cancer, I'd never started. I was given the impression it didn't happen until 60 or 70 or something.
Mine was discovered early stage - only a tiny percentage are discovered early stage. That's one advantage to finding it early - it can be removed and you have a good chance of survival - if it hasn't spread. That's a rare thing to find - early stage lung cancer - but can be found with cat scan. Xray doesn't show anything until it's been there a year or two often, but cat scan can show it when it is tiny. Ask a doctor.
I've survived almost 2 years now - I have 4 children - youngest just turned 4. Doctors think I might live to raise my children. I hope so.
Quitting smoking is just about the most important thing you can do for your health - even when you already have lung cancer - there are great benefits. My world has been much much nicer - I never dreamed it could be nice like this - without cigarettes. I thought I would die without cigarettes. I'm thrilled to discover a brand new freedom without them.
Smoking is like sucking on a loaded gun.
HumanChimney
09-12-2003, 12:44 AM
Thank you for your replies everyone.
And I am sorry to hear what happened to you MomOf4PreciousHearts. You have confrimed what I have feared all along, and that is that I have doomed myself to death from lung cancer. I am not surprised that most people in their 30's or 40's contract the lung cancer. I am 32 and have smoked for the past 15 years, so it is only a matter of time before my lungs become cancerous.
I have given a lot of thought about quitting, but now it seems as if it isn't even worth the bother. Why quit when I have already predestined myself for emphysema and lung cancer? I have thought that it might be beneficial in the short-term because I could avoid heart disease, which may end my life even sooner. But in the very near future I face lung cancer and respiratory disease. So I may just continue smoking for the few remaining years I have left.
Thanks again for the information.
HC
And I am sorry to hear what happened to you MomOf4PreciousHearts. You have confrimed what I have feared all along, and that is that I have doomed myself to death from lung cancer. I am not surprised that most people in their 30's or 40's contract the lung cancer. I am 32 and have smoked for the past 15 years, so it is only a matter of time before my lungs become cancerous.
I have given a lot of thought about quitting, but now it seems as if it isn't even worth the bother. Why quit when I have already predestined myself for emphysema and lung cancer? I have thought that it might be beneficial in the short-term because I could avoid heart disease, which may end my life even sooner. But in the very near future I face lung cancer and respiratory disease. So I may just continue smoking for the few remaining years I have left.
Thanks again for the information.
HC
Redhead23
09-12-2003, 06:43 AM
Just keep making excuses for yourself not to stop and you WILL die young of emphysema or cancer - stop bulls***ing yourself for your own sake PLEASE!!!
You're just making excuses to stay with your addiction, it's quite common but you're only kidding yourself!
Have a look on Google for stop smoking communities or check a local smoking cessation clinic, it always helps if you don't have to do it on your own!
------------------
Redhead23
Female, 25
Quit smoking & left abusive relationship in 2003 - now there's just some 25 lbs to lose and I'm happy again :D
Possible ADD, CAPD, NVLD + social & general anxiety, panic attacks
[This message has been edited by Redhead23 (edited 09-12-2003).]
You're just making excuses to stay with your addiction, it's quite common but you're only kidding yourself!
Have a look on Google for stop smoking communities or check a local smoking cessation clinic, it always helps if you don't have to do it on your own!
------------------
Redhead23
Female, 25
Quit smoking & left abusive relationship in 2003 - now there's just some 25 lbs to lose and I'm happy again :D
Possible ADD, CAPD, NVLD + social & general anxiety, panic attacks
[This message has been edited by Redhead23 (edited 09-12-2003).]
GeorgiaPeech
09-12-2003, 10:49 AM
Human chimney, you are not "doomed to lung cancer". Please don't think like that. You seem to be very aware of the dangers of smoking. Now you need to educate yourself about the benefits of quitting smoking. There are immediate benefits that take place within a few hours of quitting. Then, there are other benefits that set in within a few months, then a few years. Here's but one example of the list of benefits: http://www.lungusa.org/tobacco/quit_ben.html
But please, do not consider that you are "doomed". That implies that there is nothing you can do about it and THAT IS NOT QUITE ACCURATE. There is definitely something you can do right now to improve your health. You have already considered quitting so somewhere in the back of your mind you know that you would benefit from quitting.
Good luck in your quit.
But please, do not consider that you are "doomed". That implies that there is nothing you can do about it and THAT IS NOT QUITE ACCURATE. There is definitely something you can do right now to improve your health. You have already considered quitting so somewhere in the back of your mind you know that you would benefit from quitting.
Good luck in your quit.
MomOf4PreciousHearts
09-12-2003, 10:41 PM
Quitting smoking NOW can have definite benefits - how about an extra 20 years??
Seriously.
If there are cancer cells in there running around, then smoking is like pouring gasoline on the fire - it'll make the cancer show up quicker -
If you quit, you are at least not pouring gasoline on the fire and oops, the fire may dwindle..it may be reduced to a smolder for a long, long time.
Consider my father. He watched his older brother die of lung cancer, quickly, at the age of 56. His brother smoked. My father smoked. This was when my father decided to quit smoking. He was at that time, 52.
It seems apparent to me that seeing as how both men had the same genes, etc. and both smoked - it was likely that my father would also develop lung cancer - he was only 4 years younger than his brother, had basically same smoking habits, etc...
But my father quit, right then, at age 52.
Cancer did not appear at the age of 55 or 56 like his brother. He reached 60..then went on to 65, 66, 67...
At the age of 69, he got lung cancer. He died at the age of 71.
That tells me a little bit about the nature of lung cancer. He stopped - it obviously gave him more time - it was there all along, I'm sure - but this gave him an extra 20 years of life before it took him away -
I had lung cancer, dear heart - I ARRIVED, with a certain diagnosis, a certain and absolutely positive diagnosis. I have been freed of the cancer - that is RARE - I am not about to go pouring gasoline on a fire again - I am certain that if I were to return to smoking, the fire would once again ignite and I'd be dead within the year. If I stay away from smoking - I might get to live to raise my children.
I was certain if I quit smoking I would be MISERABLE. I had every excuse in the world to keep smoking. I kept putting it off for another day -any day, just not today -
The desire to live is very strong. When you are given a death sentence, you KNOW you want to live - it is VERY strong. Cigarettes become very unimportant -
I am amazed - I have quit smoking -life is 199% better than it was when I was smoking. I thought it would be terrible - but it's turned out wonderful. I'm so much better, in so many ways I never dreamed of.
Our bodies are gifts - very special, very precious gifts. Be very careful how you treat yours and what you put into yours - it will respond in amazing ways to GOOD care - I am astounded at how much better my general health is now, my stamina, my strength, EVERYTHING - before, when I was smoking, it was all gone.
Life is good. Hang on to it - quit smoking and expect good things to happen - many good things. :)
Seriously.
If there are cancer cells in there running around, then smoking is like pouring gasoline on the fire - it'll make the cancer show up quicker -
If you quit, you are at least not pouring gasoline on the fire and oops, the fire may dwindle..it may be reduced to a smolder for a long, long time.
Consider my father. He watched his older brother die of lung cancer, quickly, at the age of 56. His brother smoked. My father smoked. This was when my father decided to quit smoking. He was at that time, 52.
It seems apparent to me that seeing as how both men had the same genes, etc. and both smoked - it was likely that my father would also develop lung cancer - he was only 4 years younger than his brother, had basically same smoking habits, etc...
But my father quit, right then, at age 52.
Cancer did not appear at the age of 55 or 56 like his brother. He reached 60..then went on to 65, 66, 67...
At the age of 69, he got lung cancer. He died at the age of 71.
That tells me a little bit about the nature of lung cancer. He stopped - it obviously gave him more time - it was there all along, I'm sure - but this gave him an extra 20 years of life before it took him away -
I had lung cancer, dear heart - I ARRIVED, with a certain diagnosis, a certain and absolutely positive diagnosis. I have been freed of the cancer - that is RARE - I am not about to go pouring gasoline on a fire again - I am certain that if I were to return to smoking, the fire would once again ignite and I'd be dead within the year. If I stay away from smoking - I might get to live to raise my children.
I was certain if I quit smoking I would be MISERABLE. I had every excuse in the world to keep smoking. I kept putting it off for another day -any day, just not today -
The desire to live is very strong. When you are given a death sentence, you KNOW you want to live - it is VERY strong. Cigarettes become very unimportant -
I am amazed - I have quit smoking -life is 199% better than it was when I was smoking. I thought it would be terrible - but it's turned out wonderful. I'm so much better, in so many ways I never dreamed of.
Our bodies are gifts - very special, very precious gifts. Be very careful how you treat yours and what you put into yours - it will respond in amazing ways to GOOD care - I am astounded at how much better my general health is now, my stamina, my strength, EVERYTHING - before, when I was smoking, it was all gone.
Life is good. Hang on to it - quit smoking and expect good things to happen - many good things. :)
kab031550
09-13-2003, 10:51 AM
HumanChimney it is Never to late to quit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was a smoker for over 38 years and it has taken me maybe 10-15 times to try to quit. But I have made it this time. It has been 6 months 2 weeks 8 hours! The benefits have been great. I did develope COPD after this length of time smoking so there is some lung damage but before I gave up smoking I coughed a lot and had many colds and short of breath. Now that I have quit I do not cough and have not had a cold once since quitting and breathing has been much easier. It is not always an easy thing to accompolish but this time I was ready !!(you need to develope a plan and have a lot of family and friends there to support you)
It feels so good to not have your whole life be dependent on smoking. My life was decided where I went and what I did, by if I was able to smoke or not.
There is many things that can help you to stop. You are only making excuses if you have the attitude I probably already did damage so why stop now! Do you really want that cigerette to have all the control over your life??
Please stop before it is to late. As was said earlier everyone smoking..... Period. (does not always matter how long) will develope some type of health problem related to it. If I can be of any help in your quitting please let me know.
I was a smoker for over 38 years and it has taken me maybe 10-15 times to try to quit. But I have made it this time. It has been 6 months 2 weeks 8 hours! The benefits have been great. I did develope COPD after this length of time smoking so there is some lung damage but before I gave up smoking I coughed a lot and had many colds and short of breath. Now that I have quit I do not cough and have not had a cold once since quitting and breathing has been much easier. It is not always an easy thing to accompolish but this time I was ready !!(you need to develope a plan and have a lot of family and friends there to support you)
It feels so good to not have your whole life be dependent on smoking. My life was decided where I went and what I did, by if I was able to smoke or not.
There is many things that can help you to stop. You are only making excuses if you have the attitude I probably already did damage so why stop now! Do you really want that cigerette to have all the control over your life??
Please stop before it is to late. As was said earlier everyone smoking..... Period. (does not always matter how long) will develope some type of health problem related to it. If I can be of any help in your quitting please let me know.