Lung Cancer again!

[Mike.]

I don't know what it is with medical offices and hospitals, (well I do; it was just an opening line).

 

This past summer, I sat down in the large waiting room of my doctor and his partners, to wait to be called. This office I have been going to with frequency, for about 20 years. That day last summer, I looked to my left, to see a person, I hadn't seen for almost 40 years. Strange, given all my visits to the docs, I hadn't seen her before then. She was an ex. girlfriend I shared a house with, for a couple of years, in our earlier 20's. She was only about 5 feet away, facing directly to me. I said softly to her, hello "..." . She looked up and couldn't place me. I said a couple of other things. She remained puzzled and started looking like she was not too happy with this guy, striking up a conversation with her in a doctor's waiting room. I checked out the only other person, who could have been listening to our meeting, who was sitting facing me, directly in front. She was giving me the uglies, probably thinking I was an old lecher. I know I couldn't stop myself from smiling at this situation, which when I took turns looking at each, made it all the more comical in my mind. I said ... "You don't remember, me?" I'm Mike "...". Ugly, was really frowning at this point, and I could see "..." looking perplexed/worried, when then the light-bulb came on ... and she said, Oh! What happened to you? You used to have hair and a beard." I said, "I shave them now". I didn't make any comments, about how she has changed, though she has aged well. She jumped out of her chair, and sat next to me. Before long, she had her shoulder up against mine, and a hand on my leg. When I noticed, how we must look, I checked out ugly. She was looking at me, with a big smile on her face, so I guess she *then* approved. lol. We talked about our families, blah, blah, you know the catching up stuff. I asked how her sister and brother in-law who used to be close, and spent much time with us, were. She indicated, that he is in palliative-care, dying from lung cancer. Not too much longer after bombing me with that, she was called and left to go see her doc. I haven't seen her since. I wish I had, had the presence of mind, to ask her if she still had that diamond-engagement ring I gave her. She wouldn't give it back to me, when I broke off with her. I guess, I was a little out of line, asking for it anyways. lol

 

Coming home from the hospital last week, I took a cab. By the number of the cab, I knew it was the cab that used to belong to a friend, I knew well, again in my early twenty's. I asked him if it was still "...'s" cab. He said no, he bought it from his wife, after he died, a while ago. During our conversation, I asked what my friend had died from, and it was Lung Cancer again.

 

Both of these guys used to smoke.

 

There are other friends, that have died smoking relating illnesses, but only those two I heard of this last year.

 

Smoking kills ...

[Ramona]

My boyfriend's 52 year old uncle is dying of lung/throat cancer as I type this...he will pass any moment.  He will not live to see his retirement.  He will not live to see his grandchildren.  He will not live to see his Mom's 91st birthday this year.  

 

Smoking kills...

[Still winning]

It's a scary world out there for sure.

 

I'm sorry about the people you knew Mike. x

[Doreensfree]

Aww mike your post sure got me thinking.....

How thankful I'm still here after smoking all those years.....

I too know good folks who died from lung cancer....younger than me.....

A brilliant reminder of why we must guard our quits.....our lives depend on it....

[Evelyn]

Both my parents died of lungcancer, I mentioned it before but it took me 10 years to get the the right mind and kick this addiction in the balls.

[JackiMac]

lung CANCER...is that word no-body likes to say we whisper "c" or say cancer, softly and quietly as if that will make a difference, or make it go away, I have lost too through cancer, and I remember also, I keep repeating it but its keeping it real.....when I was moaning about gaining weight through stopping smoking, a very close friend said to me "Jacks you can lose weight hunny, but you can't lose cancer" yep keeping it real xxx

[Ricki M]

This is sure an eye opener.  You sure said what I needed to hear Jackie.  I too was worried about he weight gain.  At 60 I feel pretty fortunate not to have had to go through this...makes my quit just more real and happy I don't smoke anymore. 

[Jenny]

Quitting does not mean you won't still face the effects of years of smoking but it does mean you get to live your life, however long it will be, with the freedom of not needing to get a fix every 20 minutes.  :) No one knows the future and we can't change the past.  It's best I think to live for today and today I want to be smoke free.

[Ramona]

Nice point Jenny!  X2

[babs609]

I tell people all the time...I didn't quit smoking so that I won't get cancer or copd...or heart disease or any other problems caused directly by smoking.  I didn't quit smoking so I won't die..that's not realistic either...cause eventually I will die.

 

I quit smoking so I can live

[Mike.]

Quitting does not mean you won't still face the effects of years of smoking but it does mean you get to live your life, however long it will be, with the freedom of not needing to get a fix every 20 minutes.  :) No one knows the future and we can't change the past.  It's best I think to live for today and today I want to be smoke free.

 

That's very true, Jenny.

 

Let's have our babies, who have stumbled on this thread,

 

check out this Stop Smoking Recovery Timetable.

 

m/

[Doreensfree]

A great reminder for us all....smoking kills.....

[ChRiSpY]

Scary

[MarylandQuitter]

I don't know how or when (nor do I want to) but I know I won't die a smoker.  I won't be found in the laying on the floor in the garage with a burned out cigarette by my side.  They say that smoking kills 50% of smokers.  We quit.  Odds are we're going to live a helluva a lot longer had we never quit.  Either way, it's all about living each minute to the fullest and you can't do that chained to a cigarette.

 

Besides, I don't plan on ever dying.  I think I'll just live in good health forever.  :)

[beacon]

You know perhaps that my mom has lung cancer. I have talked about smoking in front of the hospital while she was getting treatment. I knew it was revolting but I did it in shame because I had to as an addict. While I may get cancer one day, God forbid, I have quit now.

[Mike.]

You know perhaps that my mom has lung cancer. I have talked about smoking in front of the hospital while she was getting treatment. I knew it was revolting but I did it in shame because I had to as an addict. While I may get cancer one day, God forbid, I have quit now.

 

Yes, I remember that.

 

m/