Local Expert Says Jennings' Cancer May Be Advanced

Shop Talk ^ | April 8, 2005 | Gail Shister

[johnb838]

whats zyban?

[walden]

I know EXACTLY how you feel. I can't quit now either, but I've always smoked very low tar cigarettes, and I'm down to a pack a day now, very much hoping and planning to cut to half a pack when my youngest leaves for college. If I can do that, and stay at that level, I'm thinking that maybe I don't have to completely quit-- I hope so anyway. But quitting altogether is just too hard, and when I did (for over a year), I gained 30 pounds.

Anyway, hang in there, and best wishes to you!

[johnb838]

secondhand smoke. your grandparents killed her.

[dfwgator]

God loves Peter Jennings just as much as He loves me.

And there but for the Grace of God, go I.

[johnb838]

Its much better to point to the 50 year olds.

thats a better propaganda spin, eh?

[dfwgator]

Thankfully this thread has been much more "Christian" than some of the other Jennings threads on FR. I hope we can keep it that way.

[johnb838]

nazi.

[RoseofTexas]

Prayers lifted up for his salvation!

[johnb838]

i just love how we can come together on fr and not wish ill on those with whom we disagree.

[sinkspur]

It scares me but it doesn't make me see how I can successfully quit at this time.

Do whatever it takes. Seriously. You do NOT want to die this way. Two uncles died of lung cancer and my aunt said she had to give a friend his guns so that one of them wouldn't kill himself, he was in such pain.

[cspackler]

Zyban is actually another marketing name for Welbutrin, an anti-depressant. They found out that a cool side effect of the drug was that it makes cigs taste like absolute dog crap. Believe me, after a few days you take a drag and have to fight the gag reflex. Anyway, the FDA approved it as a stop-smoking drug. It makes you happy while you quit.

I had great success with it (doctor prescribed, of course), others have not. You have to be careful about tapering off the drug when you quit, or you turn into a real a$$hole...

[Godebert]

"To all FReepers who smoke: PLEASE STOP NOW!!!"

You have to die of something. Might as well be from something you enjoy.

[Semper Paratus]

Back in the '60s I remember several time my father would say :
"Poor so-and-so. They operated on his chest and then closed it right back up!"

[SheLion]

Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in the United States, with roughly four out of five people who have the disease dying within five years, Axelrod says. The five leading causes: "Smoking, smoking, smoking, smoking and smoking."

Things we can (legally) enjoy in life today are getting scarce.

I enjoy smoking.  It's legal.  We take our chances.  At least I am not OBESE!

Thanks for your concern.

[johnb838]

Don't you get it? It's too freaking late for me, was a long time ago, and there isnt anyone that's going to particularly miss me anyway, I mean no one that needs me, so... He will take them when He's ready, i.e., give me the mind and heart to quit, or else they will be my downfall and my sorrow, but I will NOT fall away from Him..

[processing please hold]

After all, I quit every night when I go to bed.

Me too. But, my home has been smoke free for nearly 4 years come October.

[SheLion]

Smoking cigarettes is the dumbest thing anyone can do. It robs you of your quality of life and steals precious years from time that could be enjoyed with the grand kids.

Listen, lots of things in life are dumb!  For instance:  I would never have unprotected sex.  I am not gay.  I never physically abused anyone.  I'm a lover not a fighter.

Smoking NEVER robbed me of a quality of life.  Steals precious years?  How long do you want any of us to live? Forever?

No, we don't "lecture" those of you about smoking.  We lecture yes, when "those of you" trash and bash us because we enjoy a LEGAL product.

I'm sure YOU have habits that "I" would find disgusting!  Get over yourself.

[Lexinom]

Just as there are different types of lung cancer - and I strongly suspect the kind Jennings has is the one that doesn't even use the I-IV staging - there are different ways to enjoy tobacco. Some are more risky than others. Inhaling smoke into the lungs is indeed risky. Enjoying a fine cigar or a pipe is less risky. It doesn't have to be all one way or the other.

[Graymatter]

Blaming cigarettes for the death of an 80 year old man isn't going to sway many smokers to give up the habit. Its much better to point to the 50 year olds.

Jacques Brel died of lung cancer, I think at age 49.

[ladyrustic]

FYI Smoking is hands down worse on one's health than being overweight. Smoking seriously affects the heart and lungs. Being fat causes adult onset diabetes. Neither is good, but smoking is much worse.