How do you persuade, encourage, discourage, four offspring, too old to be called children, from non smoking parents to STOP SMOKING!!! Going through what we are it's a no brainer but still the fag butts appear on the drive or in the garden (it's not them!!).It's so frustrating!
There that's off my chest.

Hi muse fan

This is a tough one...when I was diagnosed my Mum, Uncle, Brother and Step Dad all stopped smoking...my Uncle has slipped up a few times and we found out that my Step Dad was smoking all along. Secretly.

This has made me SO angry because
1) His Mum died from a smoking related disease 2) His Dad died from a smoking related disease and
3) I (his step daughter) was diagnosed with throat cancer.

To me, it doesn't make sense how he could still keep doing it. I did smoke...for a few years and quit before I was diagnosed but it's like he doesn't even care about himself. If his parents have died because of smoking and I got throat cancer then I don't think anything will make him stop to be honest.

I do understand that smoking is VERY addictive but...ugh. I don't know.

I guess it's just up to them to quit, if someone so close to them getting diagnosed wont stop them...what will?

Sorry for that rant!!

Take care xxx

Hi muse fan, I do think that non smokers underestimate the power of tobacco a bit. I was a heavy smoker way past my diagnosis, RT, hyperbaric treatment and reconstructive ops and just couldn't kick it. I tried hypnosis, patches, gum and everyhting else.
When I resigned myself to the fact I would always smoke something kicked in, I went to bed a smoker and woke up a non smoker. Haven't craved a smoke since and that was 3 years ago. Dont know how that worked.
Smoking's a weird one and if you still like it then it's realy hard to kick it. My son and sister still smoke but I gave up worrying about it. They know the risks so it's up to them.
I think about 25% of mouth cancer sufferers never smoked so I rekon it's down to the luck of the draw. All the best, Hagg.

Thanks Hagg and Hayley for replies, I know smoking must be so addictive you only have to see the smokers sitting, standing outside The Marsden (where Graham is being treated). I guess I have such an aversion to smoking as my dad died from lung cancer, my sister in law died from breast cancer and now my husband with tonsil cancer. As you can see my experience of cancer has not been positive. I could not face it if it was one of my kids!! So I just will continue nagging!!!

Hi all,

I gave up after being told they were going to try to cure me. Before then if I was going to go away I may as well hav not had an added stress. I haven't found it at all difficult with all that has gone on and as I had to spend a couple of weeks in hospital.

What really dissapoints me is the only person to have given up out of this is my best friend Jacqui. Mum - NO, Sister - NO, Grandad - NO (but in fairness he is 80), Work collegues - NO

I just think it is sad that me getting a smoking related cancer hasn't kicked anyone up the arse except Jacqui - who was round last night and is still off the fags.

FOOLS!

Love Chloex