Shadow

Hi and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

Waiting for results of tests can be very hard and my best advice would be to stay away from google and instead spend time doing things you enjoy to try and keep your mind off the 'what ifs'.

I don't know the answer to your question so I hope you don't mind me recommending that you join and post your question in the lung cancer group, not because I think this is what you have, but because the people over there are probably better placed to answer.

Clicking on the link I've created will take you to the group where you can join and post in the same way as you did here. You can also join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'. 

If you have any difficulty navigating the community just drop me a reply and I'll be pleased to help.

x

Ty, I appreciate and understand. X

I smoke...and there is no shame in BEING WHO YOU ARE. 

You could have cancer without smoking...what was that Movie stars name, he died and his wife shortly after died of LUNG CANCER and she NEVER SMOKED.

My belief is it is all in the genes.  I am 58...a 2 pack a day smoker...they screen my lungs every year....I have no shame about it...it is who I AM.  Lung cancer is not in my family, but breast and colon are.

I have already had a biopsy on my breast and next week they are going to take a sample from my Uterus...I don't blame smoking at ALL...I blame my genes....probably smoking contributes to this...but ya know WHAT?  So does our food and water...and environment.

I live near an airport, there is a higher rate of cancer in my area...has been that way for years.

Live your life...smoke your ciggarettes and be you.....

Oh missy - THANK YOU for being so much braver than me to put this on!!! I'm only sorry it took me so long to see it.

I am also a smoker (have been for 45 years) and I've recently been diagnosed with blood cancer. I'm waiting for radiotherapy. The stress of it all, and other major circumstances at the same time, has made me smoke more. My heads a mess, I'm stressed out to hell, and immensely emotional. Whenever I light up (to get my few minutes of escape),  I can FEEL the disapproving and disgusted, horrified looks from family.

Now, while I totally get that smoking and cancer can be linked with no question,  nobody else in the family can understand that, (as far as I understand it anyway), blood cancer is gene/dna related and not connected to lifestyle.

We all SHOULD stop smoking, for our health. But why does nobody ever look disgusted if you have cancer because you had too much saccharin/hairspray/red meat etc etc???

I have no other vices - well, only chocolate, but that MUST be good for you because people keep buying me it!!

Thankyou again Missy, for unknowingly lightening the load of the  massive black cloud on my shoulders. I feel better just having read your message. 

I wish you well, and carry on being you x

I'm really glad I could help you....this message made my day...

And I am not a Dr....but my Grandfather smoked for YEARS with ONE LUNG.(he lost a lung in the Military)....in his case it could have been the smoking.....but again.who KNOWS....we don't....and my Grandfather smoked to the day he died and SO WILL I.

Like you, I am smoking more now with this diagnosis...but in addition to the smoking addiction, I also have an alcohol addiction. 

The alcohol I have managed to stay away from (well I drank 1x in the past 3 months) after I found out this might be in my lymph nodes and I KNOW that I CANT drink thru this PROCESS because when I drink, I over do it and I feel like horrible..(not when I am drinking thou...lol)....and with the drinking I can feel the NEGATIVE HEALTH effects....so I chose not to drink until the lump is taken out and hopefully until radiation and whatever else is completed.

You said you have smoked for 45 years....So smoking is part of you and your lifestyle....

Every human has a vice..I don't care who they are..they may not share those issues with you....but they have them.

Don't let anyone blame your cigs on the cancer....could be....but could also not have anything to do with it...like you said you have blood cancer which is hereditary....smoke away babe....try to eat and hydrate and fight this horrible disease.

HUGS.

Hi Misssy, you've done amazingly well staying off the drink!! You've clearly got much more willpower than me. So proper congratulations to you for doing so well!!

I do hope you get some good news soon. I think you've had enough bad times already. Let us know how you get on won't you?

One more thing - how would you respond to anyone who said you're always on the defensive, when trying to explain that cigs do not always equal cancer???

X

For me it is a little more than will power..it is FEAR because my stomach is now bleeding when I drink and my last annual for blood work showed low hemoglobin....But, I STILL get pushed to the drink in times when I am in EXTREME fear and then I end up saying "scr*w it...I have cancer anyway"....I did drink 1x in the last 3 months and I was not feeling well for about 5 days after that...I think my liver is tired......Do the best you can is all you can do.

For anyone who would say to me I was on the defensive about smoking cigs?

I would say you are damn right I am on the defensive as I don't pry into your life or your choices...so I prefer you don't force your views on me as well....because I am not someone you will convince smoking caused my cancer.  There are too many variables....and I would add...so STFU.  LOL.

Also, drinking for ME is way more dangerous than smoking.

Where smoking for some may feel way more dangerous to them than drinking.

I can't stop drinking when I drink....there is no OFF button.....then I binge for DAYS, get really sick....I believe I have been hospitalized for detox at least 10x in the last 3 years....Its not a pretty picture.

And my family would much rather have me smoke my brains out than drink.

Thanks for laying bare your personal 'things'.

I wish I was as strong a person as you with your views - I'm one of those people who does everything they can to please others, alot of the time to my own detriment. So much so that I feel I have absolutely nothing left to give to myself. Think I probably have a very low opinion of myself. I feel like I'm everyone else's puppy, doing what is wanted of me, rather than living my life and doing what I want. That's probably why I dig my heels in on smoking - cos it's all I have for just ME.

Everyone has their demons. I just wish people would appreciate that, and be a bit more understanding.

You take care now x

i'm here for you...if you ever want to talk.

See you around here....keep us posted. 

xo