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THANK YOU QUIT SUPPORT

jillygirl profile image
jillygirlAdministratorQueen Bee
14 Replies

HOW QUIT SUPPORT HELP ME BEAT SMOKING AND CANCER.

The older members will probably have already read this . so I apologise to you. however this is why I still stay on site after 2 years.

5th April 2012 it was my birthday , I was 63yrs old. The week before I got a terrible chest infection, which made me feel so horrid I didnt even want a cigarette

Dont get me wrong, as a true smoker does, I did persevere and try a couple , but didnt enjoy them. So that was the beginning of a very hard and gruelling next few months.

I went to see my doctor , with what I thought was arthritus pains in my legs. He refered me to the hospital. After being examined for about 2 hours from head to foot, I did think

it was a bit strange for pains in my legs. So I had an x ray of my chest before they let me go home. They said they would send another appointment through the post.

Oh boy! 2 days later I received a letter saying go for a ct scan the following day. due to an abnormality on the x ray.

That was it ,I was taken into a room where an image of my lungs was on the screen. I knew deep down what was going to be said. The doctor explained I had a tumour on my lung, he was 99% certain it was a cancer. He did try and reassure me that it was contained and should be able to be removed.

After that day my world, and my familys was turned upside down.

Everyday after that seemed to mingle in together. I had numerous x rays , pet scans , and ct scans.

Then one appointment was with the consultant, he explained in full what I had. Yes I had 2 primary tumours. 1 on my windpipe which was pressing on to my main artery to my brain.

He reffered me for an exploratory operation to see how bad this was. As they couldnt operate if it was too dangerous. Then it would have been pallative care. (end of the road).

I had a 3 hour operation. When I came to, the surgeon said he had managed to seperate the cancer from the windpipe and artery, so the big operation could now go ahead.

3 weeks later I had my whole right lung removed . I was taken into a high dependency ward for 3 days. I dont remember much as I was in morphine city then.

On my 7th day I was discharged from hospital to go home. Very hard work, and I must admit I had quite a few panic attacks. with breathing and going upstairs.

Eventually I was feeling a lot better and just getting my strength back , when I got an infection where I had, had a chest drain. So antibiotics which upset me, and nurses to put dressings on.

After 2 weeks I had to go see the consultant again, regarding chemotherapy. She looked at my infection and doubled the antibiotics which made me feel even worse. Told me to come back in 2 weeks to see if I wanted to go ahead with the chemotherapy.

After talking it over, I decided to give chemotherapy a go, It was offered to me as an extra safeguard in case there were any undetectable cancer cells. They told me 1 in 20 people benefit. But it wasnt guaranteed plus there were a lot of risks too.

I went for the chemotherapy, I had 8 hours of it on the first day. I thought it wasnt too bad. Next morning I felt very sickly and had nausea. I got tinnitus in my ears, I couldnt stand any form of food . No I thought I will keep on taking the anti sickness tablets, and I would be ok. I stuck this out for 6 days , but by the Monday when I was due to have a pre-assesment for the next days chemotherapy, I virtually crawled into the hospital and collapsed.

I was on fluids all day via a drip. They eventually sent me home, but wanted to check on me the next morning. Next morning I got out of bed felt sickly again then collapsed back on the bed I just could not stand up.

Back to the hospital. This time they kept me in. I was put on fluids anti-sickness drugs and monitored for 5 days. The consultant came to see me and said NO MORE CHEMOTHERAPY for you. It is far too dangerous for your body.

The way I felt I could have kissed her.

The consultant has been really good , and has checked me for anemia, calcium, given me steroids to get my strength back. They are checking on me every 3 months, for the first year then it will be 6 monthly , then yearly. I am currently being seen every 6 months.

I know all of this story may seem boring to you, but if you are trying to stop smoking , may be , just may be , reading what I have been through and being lucky enough to survive, it may encourage you to think IS IT REALLY WORTH SMOKING?

Without quit support and all its members I don`t think I could have kept going. The love and care you all sent was unbelievable. THANK YOU you are all angels.

THINK when the cravings start, is it worth it. I know my answer. I am sure your brain knows the answer too.

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jillygirl
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14 Replies

Oh Jillie what an inspiring story, you are one very brave lady. Xx

ChrissieG profile image
ChrissieG

Good Morning Jilly

All I can say is Thank You so much for sharing your story.

I knew you had survived lung cancer as it is on your profile, but I had never liked to ask you about it because I didn't like ti intrude.

You are one very brave lady and your story is so inspiring. What is also amazing is your dedication to supporting and motivating others who are on the stop smoking journey every single day. It really is people like yourself and other long term members of Quit Support who help people like me and hundreds like me to carry on this journey, especially when the going gets tough, and then you are so happy for us when we achieve another smoke free day!

Thank you simply doesn't seem enough to say how much we appreciate you for doing that, but we really really do.

Big hugs to you JillGirl xxxxx

monky profile image
monkyAdministratorCake sniffer outer in reply toChrissieG

Hear hear Chrissie :)

Nick-o-teenfree profile image
Nick-o-teenfree3 Months Winner

Wow,what a lady you are :)

You really are a fighter,and this story is so inspiring,any negative thoughts that anyone has or gets,only needs to read this.......if it doesn't put them off smoking for life nothing will.

Speak soon Nick :) :) xx

yellowsnowdrop profile image
yellowsnowdrop

LOVE YOU JILLY.x Happy 2nd anniversary my brave friend.x

monky profile image
monkyAdministratorCake sniffer outer in reply toyellowsnowdrop

xx :) :)

jillygirl profile image
jillygirlAdministratorQueen Bee

Thank you everyone. xxxxxx

Kaprin profile image
Kaprin

Happy anniversary my dear friend such an inspiration you motivate me constantly thank you x x x

kizwiz profile image
kizwiz1 YEAR WINNER

Congratulations jillygirl on reaching 2 years smoke free, brilliant! And thank you for sharing your story with us, something to think about if I ever feel tempted to start again. How do you feel about smoking now? Do you ever get cravings?

Reading this gave me goosebumps, you are a truly strong lady and an inspiration, thank you for sharing this today xxx

Mindermummy profile image
Mindermummy

Wow...wow..wow...this has SO helped me today...well done.xx

Thank you for telling your story. Helping me through a bad wobble. xx

MMoo profile image
MMoo

Hey Jilly, I often read your story when I'm having a tough time. Your so brave and such an inspiration to me and so many people on quit support you have helped me on some many occasions even if its just to say hello.

A big thank you to you for everything :-) xx

lindalou12 profile image
lindalou1217 Month Winner

I know this post was 4 years ago, I just now read it, wow jillygirl, thank you so much for posting this, I hope all the new people can read it.

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