Whoo Hoo and Yahoo

On 5/29/2008 Mike1sc wrote:

Hey guys...it's been a while since I was on and looked and it brought a smile reading some of your responses.  I have been out of treatment for almost three months...I still am dealing with the mucus and a tickling cough that turns into a roar, then eyes water, nose runs, I get the toilet paper, blow, wipe, and wait for the next cough, which seems to be getting farther apart...which is a good thing.

Sometimes you wonder why certain things happen.  I smoked but cancer was always going to hit the next door neighbor...not me.  I just loved drinking a beer or two.  So I go to the Oncologist and he tells me in front of my wife that my cancer, 86% of the time is caused by smoking and drinking.  The smoking part didn't bother me...I had been quitting tomorrow for the past 15 years.  The drinking....come on, I really did enjoy my beer and my buddies and the pool parties and picnics and well.....

So that part I'm being aggressive about...and I don't need to be but I just am. 

My voice hasn't returned....I've got that froggy noise that comes out and over time I have manipulated it into sounding like talking...my family can understand me but strangers kind of scratch their heads.  My wife and I were at a car dealer and walking in the showroom and I was talking to her and a young boy stopped us and asked me if I was trying to act like a pirate, and we laughed.  I guess we all need to laugh at times. 

I'm just rambling on and not really saying anything but there is one last thing to say and its the most important.  I received so much comfort and understanding from all the other patients that I was going thru treatment with, and I get that same feeling here when I'm reading and writing.  We all need to remember the nervousness, being scared, and not knowing procedures when we all started this mess, so its so important to reach out when someone new writes here.  I'm very indebted to a number of people. 

Take care.      Mike Smith (aka the pirate)

How can I make my husband to stop smoking???? He has kidney cancer.We found out 06.From 2 packs a day to half a pack a day.He smokes outside.He said he is trying.Am tired of figthing about his smoking.The Dr. told him{its sad you migth beat cancer,but die of lung cancer}.Should I stop nagging? Did you stop smoking? My husband also liked his beer after work,now that he stop rigth away,BUT NOT SMOKING!!!! HELP! Mick is 50

A co-worker and I have been quitting smoking for a couple of years, after smoking all of our adult lives.  In December when I was diagnosed with throat cancer, I immediately went on Chantix, took it for about 30 days, twice a day, and six months later I haven't had any desire to pick one up.  This is coming from someone who tried every scheme and remedy on the market for years and could always quit but was back closet smoking within weeks. 

My co-worker was diagnosed with kidney cancer in february...he also went on Chantix and has not smoked since then. 

 You can't quit for him.  He has to do that himself.  The only thing I hated worse than the cancer was remembering the nagging and the moaning and groaning about me smoking...all of which is valid as everything but as a smoker I just didn't want to hear it.  Don't offensive word removed and moan...instead encourage him to quit because you want him around in the future, and whether he wants to admit it or not, smoking increases the chances for all the bad things. 

In order to get Chantix, my insurance provider required me to go to a smoking cessation program and complete it.  I did and became the poster child because I was the one with cancer from smoking and everyone could hear and see me.  The girl that runs the group on Tuesday nights has called and chatted several times to encourage me and has asked me to come speak to her current group.  I feel I've helped a few others quit just by going and talking about my treatments and the pain and the cost and them hearing my voice (or lack of it).  I think going kind of made me feel good too and reassured me in not picking one up. 

Look, I quit and if I can quit anyone can, and it feels so good to not have to get up every 20 mintes or so and go outside in whatever weather and smoke.  No more stigma at work from the non smokers.  No more stinky breath (well, maybe a bit), and especially no more smelly clothes.  I'm so soon from my treatment I haven't received the good stuff that ex-smokers do, such as smell and taste and appetite.  I hope that comes at some point. 

But right now, I am a non-smoker with no urge.  And get a little help from your doctor.  talk to him first, ask him to prescribe Chantix to him, if you can get him to take it, he'll have a high probability of quitting, and at some point he'll thank you for it.  But remember, ultimately, its his choice...just encourage...its a no nag zone!

 Take care and God bless.

 Mike Smith