Do you smoke? (Includes pipes, cigars, chew, etc)
I have never smoked before - 43.3% - 26 votes
I did smoke, but quit less than 5 years ago - 11.7% - 7 votes
I did smoke, but quit more than 5 years ago - 31.7% - 19 votes
I currently smoke, and intend to keep smoking - 3.3% - 2 votes
I currently smoke, but plan to quit - 10.0% - 6 votes
Posted 8/12/2011 3:22 PM (GMT -8)
It struck me funny to hear the people quitting because the price went up to nearly ten dollars. I quit when I got out of the army in 1969 because the price went up from eleven cents in the PX to seventy-five cents in the real world.
Purgatory
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Posted 8/12/2011 3:25 PM (GMT -8)
Pistol, glad to hear another Vet remember the .11 packs too.
Purgatory
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Posted 8/13/2011 7:03 AM (GMT -8)
It's Saturday, I think the survey will end sometime today. I am very thankful for all of you who have participated. Based on your entries, far more of you have never smoked than I would have ever dreamed, and that's great. For those that are smoking, and want to quit, I wish you all the best. It's hard, nicotine is one of the most addicting agents out there, they claim even more addicting than herion. If you try and fail, just keep trying again.
David in SC
Water Guy
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Posted 8/13/2011 10:14 AM (GMT -8)
I Know this was not scientific but since 70% of the responders either never smoked or quit more than 5 years ago, I guess we can't blame PCa on smoking.
Purgatory
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Posted 8/13/2011 3:26 PM (GMT -8)
waterguy,
with this poll, never gave a thought about connecting smoking directly to PC, but was more interested in those fighting PC, and making healthy changes in their lives, to help even the odds so to speak while fighting cancer. the percentage of those reporting "never smoked" amazes me, but in a good way
beachbum50
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Posts : 302
Posted 8/13/2011 6:22 PM (GMT -8)
I never smoked before my dx in 2007, but started enjoying one cigar every friday after my surgery.
Purgatory
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Posted 8/13/2011 6:43 PM (GMT -8)
There is something to be said for a good cigar once in a while for sure, beachbum. Cigar bars area popular in my area, since most of the neighboring towns here have banned outdoor smoking in public areas. Enjoy.
biker90
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Posted 8/13/2011 10:30 PM (GMT -8)
I smoked for 53 years and quit in 2001. Dxed with LCa in 2008. about 15% of LCa folks have never smoked. Cigs were 9 cents a pack when I started but $1.25 and hour was big money.
Water Guy
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Posts : 2409
Posted 8/14/2011 5:32 AM (GMT -8)
David,
This has been a good poll and the number of non smokers with PC has amazed me too. 12 years ago because of hi blood pressure and cholesterol I made lifestyle changes that included diet and exercise. My blood pressure is under control and cholesterol dropped from 240 to 150. I also never smoked . However I did get PCa and perhaps my lifestyle changes only pushed back my DX a few years but I guess there is no way to prove that. On the good side because of family history of heart disease, the hospital where my RALP was performed required a complete heart scan and stress test. These tests done a week before surgery showed that at my age of 61 I have no signs of heart disease or plaque build up in any of my arteries. This I can attribute to lifestyle changes. 
rob2
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Posts : 1132
Posted 8/14/2011 6:16 AM (GMT -8)
I probably smoked a couple of packs a day and quit back in 1984! My friends bugged to xxxx out of me every time I lit up. I guess I can thank them. Before quitting, I tried a lot and finally just quit cold turkey. I have never looked back.
Purgatory
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Posted 8/14/2011 12:06 PM (GMT -8)
rob - thats 27 years smoke free for you, congratulations
waterguy - that's great about the current state of your heart at age 61. when my was last checked prior to my last major surgery this past september, the heart doctor said it looked like the heart of someone 40, which considering how ill i was at the time, i took it to be a compliment. been fortunate not to have BP problems or cholesterol or blood sugar issues. at least something is working on me, lol
pa69
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Posts : 263
Posted 8/14/2011 1:54 PM (GMT -8)
I have never smoked. Not because I thought it was a bad thing, for some unknown reason I just never did. Back in the '50s smoking was considered glamorous and the health issues were largely unknown.
Today I like to think that the money my wife and I save by not smoking pays for our annual vacation.
Bob
Purgatory
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Posted 8/14/2011 1:58 PM (GMT -8)
Bob,thats a great way to look at it, the money alone for smoking nowadays is so high
beachbum50
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Posts : 302
Posted 8/15/2011 6:17 AM (GMT -8)
David, My weekly Friday cigar is on my backyard porch, oldies music on the XM radio with my best friend of 50 years. We relax and try and slove the worlds problems. We watch the herons in the lake, and try to remember to enjoy the small things in life! My Pca was a wake up that life is too short, and we need to stop and enjoy the journey!
Kerry
Purgatory
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Posted 8/15/2011 8:29 AM (GMT -8)
kerry,
i would never have a problem with your weekly ritual. we all have to do the things that we enjoy, and bring us happiness. i was never big on cigars, but a couple of times a year, would smoke a real old school brand, Marsh Wheeling, not even expensive, but only outdoors of course. quality of life is so important. as a nurse, my wife sees a lot of tough situation, where well meaning family members force quantity of life on their elderly relatives, and leave them lingering in horrible quality of life situations. since they have medical power of attorney, the wishes of the patient aren't always being met to their best interest. sometimes, more isn't always better.
enjoy what you are doing, it sounds great to me!
david in sc
Purgatory
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Posted 8/15/2011 8:33 AM (GMT -8)
I want to thank all those that inputted to this non-scientific poll, but in my nearly 3 years at HW, the subject of smoking as rarely been mentioned in a serious way. I am well pleased that based on the data provided, most either never smoked, or no longer smoke. No judgement against those that choose to, I am all about civil liberties, and for those struggling at trying to quit, never give up there. If you try and fail, re-group and try again. Nicotine is truly an evil, highly addictive substence, one of the most addicting there is. When I smoked, I hated how my entire life had to adapt around my smoking time. Good luck to one and all, as this is just one element of healhty living, and one that there is little if anything to dispute about.
david in sc
Tim G
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Posted 9/11/2011 9:22 PM (GMT -8)
Here's something that may give those who still smoke another reason to quit: A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that those who smoked at the time of their prostate cancer diagnosis had a 60 percent greater risk of prostate cancer recurrence after treatment and death from prostate cancer. Those who quit smoking 10 years or more before diagnosis were in the same risk category as non-smokers. The study was done over a period of two decades and followed 5,366 men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Purgatory
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Posted 9/13/2011 6:10 PM (GMT -8)
tim, that's some good info. thanks for including it
jacknoon
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Posted 9/16/2011 7:22 PM (GMT -8)
I have recently quit..I started back smokoing after my prostectomy over 2 years ago,as I was so depressed at loosing my full sexual function..Crazy I know,but thats it....
Purgatory
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Posted 9/16/2011 8:03 PM (GMT -8)
Jack, that's not crazy, it well understood, no foul - no harm. We each have to deal with the depression side of having cancer in the best way that we can. We all handle things differently. Good luck to you.
David in SC