My friend, Theresa, died last night. She was a smoker...
My friend, Theresa, died last night. She was a smoker... well, a FORMER smoker. By the time she quit, it was too late. She fought to live for many years (and it was her ordeal that motivated me to quit five years ago). I'm still fine (so far) but you never know. My risks are still elevated. --- So, in memory of my friend, I'd just like to say:
Don't smoke. If you do smoke, quit. If you've tried to quit, try again. If you don't smoke, don't start.
MORE TIPS: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=CDC%3A+Tips+From+Former+Smokers
= new reply since forum marked as read
... and thanks for sharing your experience too. That's sad. 
... I'm glad I stopped also.
And to you as well. 
breath. I’m going in to get checked when it’s safer. I know death will be because of all the years I smoked, 35 years. Quitting the the hardest thing I’ve EVER done......and I miss it, but I know if I were to even have one, I’d be hooked again. I do smoke weed in a pipe about twice a week but cigarettes will NEVER cross my lips again. So sorry for your friend.
Take care. Be healthy and well.
So many people in my generation smoked because their parents did and nobody realized the true extent of the harm of the habit.
Theresa very likely added years to your life by being such a good friend. It's a wonderful tribute to her to pay the message forward.
If just ONE person reads this and is motivated to quit (or quit again) then I'll be happy.
Normally, I'm not really a "militant anti-smoking crusader" ... this isn't a daily thing with me. But today, I just wanted to put this out there and maybe it will make someone think. Or perhaps it will motivate someone to stop. It's so easy to keep telling ourselves "it will never happen to me" or "my grandfather smoked until he was 99 years old".
Anyway, thanks for checking in. Be well.
Congratulations for quitting. My parents both smoked, as did most of their friends, so I grew up amid lots of second-hand smoke. I hated it so much that I never got the habit, nor did my sister.
A friend has COPD, yet continues to smoke. You can hear her wheeze, even over the phone. It's sad, but all exhortations to quite fall on deaf ears.
My parents also smoked. Both lived into their 80's but it took a toll on their overall health.
The other day I was driving (windows up) and was stopped at light. Suddenly, I smelled smoke IN MY TRUCK even though my windows were closed. It was the driver in front of me who had lit-up. The breeze brought it toward my air-intake and right inside. Ugh. 2nd hand smoke is everywhere.
Thanks again!
She was exactly a week before her 94th birthday when she died. That was due to her one and only heart attack, and because her original equipment was worn out -- she literally had tiny tears in the aorta that were leaking blood. My father died of kidney disease a couple of months before his 82nd birthday.
You're welcome.
Quitting is so hard. (I'd tried a dozen times before with very short, or no, success)
It's infuriating.
... that's a familiar story. Even if smoking isn't the direct cause of someone's health issue, it certainly COMPLICATES things when it comes to treatment or surgery.
I hope things turn out well for your friend.
And, I’m really glad you quit. Like you, my house had parents who smoked. My dad smoked heavy. He went at age 62, heart disease. I remember the 30 cent packs well. I smoked a couple years in high school. Then, I started chewing tobacco. It was Copenhagen all day for over 16 years. Just as bad as smoking and terrible on the gums, mouth and breath. I quit cold turkey 30 years ago. I’m still scared that some day I’ll get lesions somewhere in the mouth. So far, so good.
Take care!
... wishing you good health and a long life!
I have fond memories of the sweet smell of my grandfather's pipe tobacco... but I was too young to appreciate or understand the dangers.
Sometimes, I with that families were a bit more honest and frank in the obituaries. Rather than saying "she died after a long illness"... I think it would make people sit up and THINK if obituaries said "she died of oral cancer because of smoking". Or... instead of "he passed away peacefully surrounded by family" ... add "in in final years, he endured much pain because of what smoking had done to his lungs".
Too much? It would certainly be an eye-opener for some folks.
Wishing you good health!
... I'm sorry for your loss as well. Sharing it may help someone to quit.
Be well.
My dearest friend passed yesterday, but from the virus, she never smoked.
I'm sorry to hear of your loss also.
Take care.
... and for sharing your story, too. I'm sorry for your losses.
Wishing you continued good health.
so shy smoking is the only thing that helped me socialize during the day and come out of my shell. Now a days we have meds to do that. Don't know what the future will hold but if i do get sick with lung cancer or emphazima i feel a great deal of relief we have assisted suicide in canada so i will not suffer. I do get winded easily. That could be my weight too.
Vibes to you on your loss and congratulations on that great quit you got going there.
If the quit.net is still up and running they might appreciate your advice. I used them to quit once. I found them very helpful as former smokers reached out a hand to help the current quitters to keep up a good quit.
I feel much better than I did before, but I know it will be much longer before I get the "all clear" and "back to normal".
Take care and be well.