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Message 17 of 33 in Discussion
From: Barb H (Bronze) Sent: 5/1/2002 12:38 AM '


Welcome Back Kim!

I'm so happy for you that your operation went so well and that you are well on your way to recovery. You're a real trooper! Your quit is in tact. Congratulations. You're healing in so many ways!

Hugs!

Barb

Three months, one week, 19 hours, 35 minutes and 20 seconds.

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Message 18 of 33 in Discussion
From: knowbutts (Gold) Sent: 5/1/2002 1:27 AM

Winded going up stairs? You're walking up stairs already?! You are tough. I feel faint just thinking about what you went through.
Following your story has been a profound experience. Thank you for sharing it. We all know that what happened to you could have happened to any one of us. I don't think I would have handled it as well as you have.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and a long, smoke-free life.

knowbutts

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Message 19 of 33 in Discussion
From: SweetLorraine (Gold) Sent: 5/1/2002 9:01 AM

Welcome back! It's so good to read about your recovery. Lots of us here cheering you on - not only are you strong and courageous but wise too - "I'm quitting not because I have to, but because I want to". It's an important distinction. May the healing continue.

yqf

Lorraine

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Message 20 of 33 in Discussion
From: kito40 - Gold Sent: 5/1/2002 11:18 AM


Thank-you all for your support.................it is greatly appreciated.

Love to all,

Kim

Boy I miss my meter and gifs.....................lol

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Message 21 of 33 in Discussion
From: janetd (GOLD) Sent: 5/1/2002 11:37 AM


Welcome Back, Kim! It's good to hear from you again. Here's wishing you a speedy recovery! They say having a good attitude helps with healing -- well, your attitude is tip-top, Kim! Smiles! and Hugs

yqs, Janet

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Message 22 of 33 in Discussion
From: Betsy Sent: 5/1/2002 8:16 PM


Hey Kim,Good for you!!!!!!!You have such a positive attitude,that is what is going to move your recovery along quicker!You should feel great about it!!!We're here for support anytime!!!!!Yours Truly,Betsy 5 months 3 days 2 hours and 10 minutes

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Message 23 of 33 in Discussion
From: GrumpyOMrsS (Gold) Sent: 5/2/2002 12:21 PM


Dear Kim,

I'm so happy to see you up and about and posting, but even happier to know that your surgery was a success. Following your progress from your diagnosis, and prognosis and then surgery, has been a real "eye opener" for me as well as many others here at Freedom. It could have been, and who knows, still can be any one of us in your shoes.

Please keep us updated on your recovery. It is still very early and we look forward to healing with you.

again, I'm so happy to see you up and about.

Linda...a 41 year smoker and now 2 years, 4 mos free.

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Message 24 of 33 in Discussion
From: richard,This is It,GOLD! Sent: 5/13/2002 5:59 PM

From your postings today, I see you've got your gifs back, Kim..... lol.... goof for you.....

best wishes....

r.

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Message 25 of 33 in Discussion
From: kito40 - Gold Sent: 5/13/2002 7:07 PM

I am back at home now, doing very well. I have a nurse that comes everyday to change the dressing and she says she has seen alot of lung removals and that I'm doing remarkably well.
The last of the staples come out on Wednesday. I'm still a bit sore, short of breath today because of the weather I'm sure, and still need my naps here and there.............lol.

Thank-you all for you concern and well wishes, Its greatly appreciated!

[Kim's signature gif]

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Message 26 of 33 in Discussion
From: mirigirl (silver) Sent: 5/13/2002 7:59 PM


Hello Kim - glad to see you moving along well in your recovery and posting to others along the way too, I see - you have a kind heart. Take care our quit sis - and I reckon we'll remember to

yqs mirigirl
another nicotine addict
fee and healing

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Message 27 of 33 in Discussion
From: GrumpyOMrsS (Gold) Sent: 5/13/2002 9:08 PM

Hi Kim

Just wanted to poke my head in and tell you that I've been watching your progress and thinking about you. Glad to see you are back home. That will make the healing go even faster. Please, keep on letting us know how you're progressing.

It's just so darn nice to see you out here posting. Your attitude is amazing!

Have a good night and a better week. Once all the staples out, you will not hurt as much.

yqs,

Linda

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Message 28 of 33 in Discussion
From: misledfairy Sent: 5/14/2002 8:28 AM

Hello Kim,

Not only is it great to have you back, but it is fantastic to hear how well your progressing, just you take good care of yourself and I wont say stay strong because I know you will anyway !! Seriously though it is great to hear from you. God bless.
Love and hugs
naymor xxxx
5 weeks 6 days 15 hours 25 mins

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Message 29 of 33 in Discussion
From: murphying (Gold) Sent: 5/15/2002 2:34 AM

Great to see you looking so well Kim - you must have great recooperative powers and stamina! I find it wonderful that you're also already taking the time to help others .
Just wanted to say it's good to see you back on board!

Ingrid

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Message 30 of 33 in Discussion
From: Joel. Sent: 5/30/2002 7:22 AM

Hello Kim:

I just wanted to make sure you caught this article. It was written in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution back on May 19, I just came across it.

Joel

Quitting smoking key to fighting lung cancer

By DAVID WAHLBERG
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

ORLANDO -- Smokers who quit live longer than those who don't, even after a lung cancer diagnosis, a new study has found.

The study, presented Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, found that twice as many lung cancer patients were alive two and five years after diagnosis if they quit smoking, and many more nonsmokers also were disease-free.

The finding, by Greg Videtic of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, is significant because doctors often have a hard time convincing patients to give up cigarettes after learning they have lung cancer.

Patients feel the damage is already done, or they view smoking as a stress reliever to get them through the difficult news of learning they have cancer.

"Many people have a defeatist attitude," said Dr. Carl Tahn, an oncologist with Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute. "They think, 'I already have cancer, why shouldn't I keep smoking?' . . . Studies like this give them a reason to quit. It's never too late to quit."

Tahn said he encourages all his lung cancer patients to quit smoking but only about one-third do.

Dr. Paul Scheinberg, chief of pulmonary medicine at St. Joseph's Health System in Atlanta, said he has persuaded nearly 90 percent of his lung cancer patients to abandon cigarettes.

He tells them to think of smokes as cancer food.

"If patients want to keep feeding the cancer while trying to oppose it, the feeding will probably win," Scheinberg said. "They have to get in the mind-set that the cigarette is not their best friend, as they've been accustomed to. It's a betraying friend."

Donna Belmont-Lehr, 56, of Roswell was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2000. She had smoked for nearly 40 years and had quit three times only to start again. But Bemont-Lehr hasn't had a cigarette since two weeks after learning she had cancer. She shows no signs of recurrent cancer, and she credits nicotine patches, chewing gum, big bags of suckers and a new outlook on life for helping her quit.

"It was the reality of the fact that I wasn't infallible," she said. "I don't intend to go back to smoking, but I don't say I'll never have another cigarette. I just take it day by day."

Experts say quitting smoking allows lung tissues to get healthier and chemotherapy drugs to work more effectively while enabling patients to better withstand the side effects of chemotherapy.

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Message 31 of 33 in Discussion
From: mirigirl (silver) Sent: 5/30/2002 9:25 AM

Wow Kim - isn't it amazing that Joel found this article for you and all of us. And even more amazing that you have known instinctively the truths they talk about in this article. It would have been so easy Kim to have continued to smoke after your diagnosis - and just given up on your self - I continue to be amazed by your courage and wisdom - it is very inspiring.

There is a woman here in Australia who had a victory against one of the big tobacco companies - after she contracted cancer from smoking - it really was an incredible victory for her in the courts - but the really sad thing is that she is still smoking - and according to the doctors she hasn't got long to live. Oh I feel so sorry for her - she seems like such a lovely person - she feels proud of herself that she was able to make the point publicly that the tobacco company knew what they were doing - I guess I just feel sad that her last moments will probably be clouded by cigarette smoke. She deserves better.

You don't have to walk that path Kim and neither do I or anyone else here at Freedom. We can all live fully and smoke-free as long as we remember to never take another puff! We are truely blessed eh!?

your quit sis
mirigirl
another nicotine addict
free and healing