Hi everyone, some where in the back of my mind i am sure i read somewhere that once you have had B.C. you become more prone to getting lung cancer (i do not mean mets) ie, breathing in other peoples second hand smoke, or indeed being a smoker (which i am not) the point is since having breast cancer diagnosed in 2005 i will not go any where/stay with people that smoke (thank god for the ban in England) my partner of 20 years thinks i go over the top (tough) my partners family are all chain smokers so when we have to visit for family occasions that come up i book into a hotel near by, as i cannot stand there smokey house. Would anyone else be like me ?
Cheers over and out x
Hi kippy,
I dont know if thats true or not, but I can’t stand the smell of cigarette smoke myself, I think its really horrible that chain smokers make you breathe in their smoke. So if you don’t like it you are well within your rights not to put up with it. I don’t want to offend any smokers here (really!) but I was pretty pleased with the smoking ban myself.
Cathy
Hi Kippy
I have never smoked and dont see why i should have to breath in other peoples exhumed smoke. since i have been diagnosed i am very intolerant to almost being rude so go girl
Anna
I don’t think that having breast cancer makes us any more suscepible to other cancers(there’s a thread going on skin cancer and now this one…feels like a lot of misinformation doing the rounds.)
As a born again ex smoker I also can’t bear cigarette smoke and now there’s the ban inside the outside in the summer has at times become very unpleasant.
And don’t smokers SMELL…
(There’s also a thread going for happy smokers so why don’t we turn this into the hate smoking alternative.)
Jane
When I receive my teams scripts so that I can monitor their marking the packs from the smokers really stink.I have asthma have never smoked myself and hate that stale fagash smell.
There has historically been a link between breast cancer treatment and lung cancer, but as I recall this was due to the fact that the radiation was not well targeted in decades past and some ended up hitting the lung. Modern radiotherapy is much more targeted.
Having had breast cancer is associated with a greater risk of certain other types of cancers, sometimes for genetic reasons but also because of the effects of treatment in some cases, like leukemia. I guess this makes it more important to be vigilant.
I think that having had breast cancer does make people less willing to put up with nonsense, like spending lots of time in a place that stinks like an ashtray. Also, I think that we are probably more aware than most people of what cancer does to people and how valuable good health is. My Dad smokes and it makes me so angry that he does something so silly that will probably wreck his health even if he doesn’t get cancer.
Yes you’re right Christine…so my earlier post not accurate. (Iwas told that rads on my left side might damage lungs, but not as in possibility of lung cancer) Do you know if there’s any link with increased risk of skin cancer??This was suggested by one woman’s bc nurse on another thread.
best wishes
Jane
yes christineMH. i did a bit of research after starting this thread and you are correct after having rads it does make your lungs more sensitive in general to substances/toxins. one thing that amazed me when i was sat in the waiting room waiting to go in for my chemo i could often smell that some of the other people in there waiting for chemo had just had a ciggy, i always thought that was such a shame. Cheers to ya all.
I have read that the risk of leukemia from chemo is 1.8% as opposed to 1.2% for the general population. I feel this gets things into perspective re that risk.
I admit that I am concerned about the risks of other cancers - lung cancer being the particular dread. I am a smoker - I would not go so far as to say I am a happy smoker - and I do intend to quit, in fact I did stop post op but then I had bad news and stressful times and I stupidly bought a packet of cigs and that was it. I know to the average non-smoker it is difficult to understand how some ppl continue to smoke when they know the health risks and indeed after they have been dx with any form of cancer - but it’s an addiction and it is hard to cope with the stress of the dx and subsequent treatments and suffer the stress of stopping smoking at the same time.
Perhaps I am being a bit controversial here - and please let me say that I am in no way meaning to cause offense to anyone… but there is a great tradition in condeming the smoker whilst supporting other addicts. If I was addicted to cocaine or heroin I would be able to go into a rehab centre, equally if I was an alcoholic I may be offered a hospital or rehab centre placement … smokers are just given NRT and told to get on with it.
Although I am a smoker I totally agree with the smoking ban in pubs and other public places and we in Scotland have had this for a year longer than in England - it’s so much more pleasant to go out for a meal and sit in a smoke free room.
I believe my local hospital here in Scotland runs smoking cessation classes. One of my neighbours was found to have cancerous nodules on his throat which were caught early. However, the Consultant he would need rads and would not be given them unless he was prepared to give up smoking, so he was sent to cessation classes with his wife.