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Message 2 of 19 in Discussion
From: Joel. Sent: 4/7/2002 11:33 PM


Hello Kim:

While you may not like to blame smoking entirely for your cancer, the odds are great that it is the primary reason for the disease. A lot of people like to blame pollution for the great increase of lung cancer we saw in the 20th century. Although when I say a lot of people, I am not talking about the medical or scientific community--I am talking about cigarette smokers. I used to get people in clinics regularly who heard that living in their particular city was like smoking 20 packs a day. I don't know where they heard it but wherever it was, it was not true. The effects of pollution are nothing compared to the effects of smoking.

Are there environmental exposures that increase a person's risk of lung cancer. Sure there are, but even in the most famous examples, such as asbestos workers or uranium workers, smoking was responsible for the majority of cancers in these workers.

Asbestos workers were known to have die of lung cancer at a rate of 7 to 8 times that of the general population. However asbestos workers who smoked died of lung cancer at a rate of 92 times as non-smokers in the general population.

Uranium workers had a similar experience. Uranium workers who did not smoke showed no significant difference of lung cancer than the general population. Back in the late 1960's, when the link was made to the Uranium lung cancer risk, the U.S. Public Health Service reported that out of the 101 lung cancer patients who were uranium miners, 100 were smokers. Lung cancer was non-existent in Indian Uranium miners, most of whom rarely smoke.

If you want to see the effects of smoking, see the article Smoking's Impact on the Lungs. Kim, don't let cigarettes off the hook of what they very likely did to you. Giving cigarettes any latitude is just setting yourself up to forgive them for the unforgivable. You don't want to do that for if you do you may forgive them enough to let them back into your life. You don't ever want to give cigarettes the chance to finish up the job they were working towards in you. Hold cigarettes accountable for what they are and you will stay forever resolute to never take another puff!

Joel

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Message 3 of 19 in Discussion
From: Roger (Gold) Sent: 4/7/2002 11:36 PM


Kim,

Welcome To Freedom And Welcome To Green. I remember the day your sister came to Freedom and posted her story and mentioned her sister. I can only imagine how your emotions are at this point. I admire your courage for coming to Freedom to be part of this family. You know quite a bit about us already after lurking for a month. Don't feel so bad, I lurked almost 2 months before I joined.

I know all of us here at Freedom will keep you in our thoughts and prayers as you face your challenges. I do look forward to reading your posts in the future. As I said, you already have my respect and admiration for the courage you have already exhibited by joining this family. Keep the faith and always keep a positive attitude. I have a good feeling you will become a asset to this community. I will keep you in my thought and prayers Kim.

Roger

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Message 4 of 19 in Discussion
From: marty (gold) Sent: 4/8/2002 3:20 AM


Hello Kim, and welcome

Lots of people here ask the question "Have I quit too late?" and many who don't ask the question are thinking it but afraid to ask it. Your courage in posting here can give inspiration to many who might otherwise think it's not worth giving up. And your presence at Freedom will certainly encourage a lot of waverers to make up their mind to quit. I know that's probably not why you joined us, Kim, but think of all the good you can do for so many people, not just your sister.

We all hope and pray that your surgery will be successful.

Marty
NOT A PUFF FOR 1 year 4 months 1 week 1 day

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Message 5 of 19 in Discussion
From: BillW-Gold Sent: 4/8/2002 6:11 AM


Welcome, Kim, to Freedom!

Thank you for having the courage to come forward, and remind the rest of us just how important this battle is. Just because any one of us has quit doesn't mean that we are now out of the woods. Your battle with this addiction is every bit as important as ours, and you are very, very welcome here.

You have my prayers for a successful surgery, and a great recovery!

BillW One month, four weeks, two days, 20 hours, 6 minutes and 9 seconds. 1765 cigarettes not smoked, saving $348.61.

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Message 6 of 19 in Discussion
From: Glenys__Goldx3 Sent: 4/8/2002 6:54 AM


Hello Kim - welcome, welcome, welcome! I am so pleased to meet you, Headbo has indeed spoken of you. You betcha we all wish you luck with your surgery. You will find lots of support here.
Of course, the direction for you to look is forward - as is the case with every one of us. For you, your focus is on maintaining this quit, building your strength to sustain you through your surgery and subsequent recovery. It sounds like you have a caring husband and sister - and now you have us as well, all wishing you well and offering our support, although I suspect that you have inspired us more at this point. Cheers from Glenys
@ 11 months 2 weeks

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Message 7 of 19 in Discussion
From: SweetLorraine (Gold) Sent: 4/8/2002 8:57 AM


Welcome to freedom Kim and congratulations on being green! It is not an easy thing to quit cigarettes give yourself credit for a job well done. As you heal from the smoke damage let the healing strengthen your resolve to never take another puff. You're in my thoughts.

yqf Lorraine

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Message 8 of 19 in Discussion
From: Anna~GOLD~ Sent: 4/8/2002 8:21 PM


Hi, Kim, and welcome to Freedom! We're so happy to have you here and you will be in my thoughts. Stay close!
Anna

3 Months 1 Week 4 Days 20 Hours 21 Minutes 24 Seconds. Cigarettes not smoked: 2342. Money saved: $585.63.

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Message 9 of 19 in Discussion
From: lizzy(GREEN) Sent: 4/8/2002 8:31 PM


Hang in there, Kim. Congratulations on your quit, and good luck with your surgery. You're doing exactly the right thing by coming to this group. Keep posting - getting responses to your individual experience is very encouraging. Look forward to hearing from you soon...
yqs, Lizzy

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Message 10 of 19 in Discussion
From: Toast (GOLD!!) Sent: 4/8/2002 9:33 PM


Hi Kim,

Welcome to Freedom and Congrats on going GREEN!

Wow, what a situation you are going through. And really, it could be any one of us. And may yet be one day. That's a price we all might stand to pay for our addiction. Lung cancer or COPD or emphysema or heart disease or any other number of crippling &/or killing diseases. We all hope we stopped the madness soon enough. Your cancer hits pretty darn close to home for us here. (Not to mention, I've lost 2 family members to lung cancer specifically, among others.)

I must say that I welcome you here most warmly! You are giving yourself the most precious gift by quitting smoking. I look forward to watching you unwrap that gift here with us. Do know that your surgery and recovery are more than likely to go better by your quitting smoking.

We're here to help you stay quit! Congratulations on already getting the roughest month under your belt!

Melissa

10 Months 2 Weeks 2 Days 22 Hours 33 Minutes 15 Seconds Free
6418 Less
$930.73 More
1 Mo 2 Wks 2 Days 13 Hrs 47 Mins 57 Secs Added

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Message 11 of 19 in Discussion
From: Ladybird-is-Gold Sent: 4/8/2002 9:44 PM


Kim,
Welcome to the site & congratulations on turning green. It is a huge accomplishment. Be proud !
My thoughts are with you as you make your way through the surgery. It sounds like you have a very supportive family & know you have your conmrades at Freedom wishing you all good thoughts .
YQS,
Susan

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Message 12 of 19 in Discussion
From: kito40 - Gold Sent: 4/12/2002 8:27 PM


I just read the courtesies, and I apologise to everyone for not replying back. I'm still new here and will finally clue into all the rules.........lol. Thank-you all for your support this is an excellent site. I sit here and read alot of posts.
My surgery is coming up fast and I'm getting very nervous. Wednesday is not far away. My power of attorney is finished and I've advised my husband of my wishes if anything should go wrong............but I'm going to be fine! and I'm going to be cancer free!...............and the best thing of all is...........I don't smoke anymore and I will never take another puff! I can't do to my right lung what I did to my left one...........
Goodbye left lung and goodbye cancer!!!!!
Kim

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Message 13 of 19 in Discussion
From: murphying (Gold) Sent: 4/13/2002 1:20 AM


A belated welcome Kim! Not sure how I missed this thread...but glad I caught up with you, even if a bit belatedly. I remember your sister posting and talking about you - you sound as if you have a power of positive thinking there Kim...with your quit as well as the surgery to come. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers until we hear from you again!

Yqs Ingrid

3M 1W 4D. Cigarettes not smoked 5099
Self Esteem 100%

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Message 14 of 19 in Discussion
From: misledfairy Sent: 4/13/2002 8:11 AM


Hi Kim and welcome.
I have only just read your post and I am so filled with admiration for you,you are so very brave and I wish you all the luck in the world with you surgery.I and I am sure everyone here will be praying for you and thinking of you on the 17th.
Love and Hugs Naymor xxxx

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Message 15 of 19 in Discussion
From: Matt (Gold) Sent: 4/13/2002 9:36 AM


Welcome to Freedom Kim!

I'm not sure how I missed this thread before. Sorry to join in so late.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. You are very courageous and have shown much strength. Quitting smoking is never a bad choice, no matter when it is done. You have just made the best commitment possible to your health and quality of life.

You have great support from your sister and you will find all the education and support you will need here to strengthen your own resolve to never take another puff.

Looking forward to hearing from you again soon.

Yqb,

Matt
Five months, three weeks, six days

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Message 16 of 19 in Discussion
From: GrumpyOMrsS (Gold) Sent: 4/13/2002 8:08 PM


Hi Kim, and once again, I welcome you to Freedom

Your post is a difficult one for many of us to answer because you are here before us experiencing what any one of us could be facing. Who knows, even for those of us who have long quit, we could be standing in your shoes.

I know that most of us, when we began smoking, knew what cigarettes were capable of doing. I say, most of us, because when I started smoking, as many of our older members will attest, it was considered, safe, glamorous and fashionable. As the warnings surfaced, we were already slaves to what we are now just realizing is the deadliest of all the addictions. One out of every two of us will end up with a smoking related illness, but that is something we never knew, or more importantly, never really wanted to know. It is called, "denial".

I too, wish to add my warmest wishes and prayers to that of our other members. We all wish for you a successful surgery and a rapid recovery. If not you, we hope that your sister can keep us apprised of what is happening to you and your subsequent recovery. I speak for every member here when I say that our thoughts, our prayers and are hearts are with you at this difficult time. We look forward to sharing your recovery and your healing with you.

yqs,

Linda