3 ms·

We are, sadly,practically twins in this. My mom died from lung cancer at 50. Horrible horrible way to go. My dad is 79 and (thankfully) going reasonably well.

We are, sadly,practically twins in this. My mom died from lung cancer at 50. Horrible horrible way to go. My dad is 79 and (thankfully) going reasonably well. Bit started smoking in early early teens ;-(

gerdesj 3y ago
My mum never really smoked. She died from cancer (a rather cruel, ladies only one to start with. A reprieve with all clear and then it re-appeared after 18 months, and went berserk) around 30 years ago. My dad did smoke for around 30 years but just stopped in the mid eighties. He's still with us but at one point a few years back a surgeon gave him a heart massage - as in heart in hand - and he came back. Long story! I am 53 as of Pearl Harbour day. I smoked for around 30 years (I've double checked all these 30 year timescales). I gave up April 2018. My personal message is that the effects of smoking can be rather insidious. You don't notice the shortness of breath for years until you realise it isn't normal. You might blame it on getting older or less active or whatever but it isn't. I gave up when I had obvious trouble breathing in bed after yet another chest infection. Five and a half years later I am much better off but still have snags. I will be visiting a doc soon and expecting a diagnosis of a variety of COPD. I will also be asking for a PSA test sigh. I can run up hill a way etc but I run out of puff very quickly. Even if you avoid cancer itself, the other side effects are ... insidious. On the bright side, I'm roughly £3-4000 per year better off, have a sense of smell and taste and still going 8)
- latchkey 3y ago
  Congrats to you for kicking a really nasty habit. Seriously. Best thing you could do to lessen the effects as you age.
  - gerdesj 3y ago
    Cheers mate. It was quite hard and I'm still not too sure how I managed it. My original plan was to hit the vape but my epiphany was: If nicotine is the addictive substance then patches and vapes etc would work 100% guaranteed. There is the "habit" thing that is also trotted out as a thing - nope, not for me. I had no problem being in a pub and having a few sherbets (alcohol/booze), nor did I find after dinner/supper an issue. I am convinced that somewhere amongst all the other stuff in a burning fag, is what is really, really addictive. It isn't nicotine.

gerdesj 3y ago

My mum never really smoked. She died from cancer (a rather cruel, ladies only one to start with. A reprieve with all clear and then it re-appeared after 18 months, and went berserk) around 30 years ago. My dad did smoke for around 30 years but just stopped in the mid eighties. He's still with us but at one point a few years back a surgeon gave him a heart massage - as in heart in hand - and he came back. Long story! I am 53 as of Pearl Harbour day. I smoked for around 30 years (I've double checked all these 30 year timescales). I gave up April 2018. My personal message is that the effects of smoking can be rather insidious. You don't notice the shortness of breath for years until you realise it isn't normal. You might blame it on getting older or less active or whatever but it isn't. I gave up when I had obvious trouble breathing in bed after yet another chest infection. Five and a half years later I am much better off but still have snags. I will be visiting a doc soon and expecting a diagnosis of a variety of COPD. I will also be asking for a PSA test sigh. I can run up hill a way etc but I run out of puff very quickly. Even if you avoid cancer itself, the other side effects are ... insidious. On the bright side, I'm roughly £3-4000 per year better off, have a sense of smell and taste and still going 8)

latchkey 3y ago
Congrats to you for kicking a really nasty habit. Seriously. Best thing you could do to lessen the effects as you age.
- gerdesj 3y ago
  Cheers mate. It was quite hard and I'm still not too sure how I managed it. My original plan was to hit the vape but my epiphany was: If nicotine is the addictive substance then patches and vapes etc would work 100% guaranteed. There is the "habit" thing that is also trotted out as a thing - nope, not for me. I had no problem being in a pub and having a few sherbets (alcohol/booze), nor did I find after dinner/supper an issue. I am convinced that somewhere amongst all the other stuff in a burning fag, is what is really, really addictive. It isn't nicotine.