Smoking....is It Worth It?

[nailit]

Ive smoked for most of my life until a few years ago, had the occasional relapse but got back on the wagon.
My sisters husband gave up about 15 yrs ago after his leg ulcerated and burst due to blocked arteries. Since then he has had lung cancer and had part of lung removed. More recently his ulcerated leg has got to the point where he now has to have an amputation. He was due to meet with the aneathetist in two weeks but since then has been taken into hospital after becoming ill where they find that he once again has (now, inoperable) lung cancer. On top of that two of his toes on his 'good' leg have started to turn black.
He often said that the worst thing that he did was to start smoking.
Now he's stuck in hospital and shafted all ways it seems.

My sister now' not only has to contend with our mothers terminal cancer but also her husband's of 45 years.

My son smokes. I understand the addiction but wish he would knock it on the head while he is still young.
So, smoking. Is it really worth it?

[bednobs]

no

[Nical]

No.

[Milo2]

No. My brother in law, also a smoker, recently died of lung cancer.

[wolf63]

Neither my brother and I smoke.

Both of our parents smoked and died as a result of their smoking.

My mum, who died at 58 years of age, said that nobody forced her to smoke, she knew the risks and still continued to smoke. She did give up smoking - eventually as using an oxygen cylinder whilst smoking was too risky.

☺

[Bobbisox1]

Nailit I think we all know it’s not worth it but it’s an addiction that’s hard to break for some, I packed it 23 years ago and I didn’t start till I was 26, I found it easy to stop but many don’t anc you have to want to

[pixie374]

I don't think anyone, smoker, ex-smoker, non- smoker would say it is "worth it". It is just very difficult to stop once you start. I have had bouts of part-time smoking, but usually don't.

[nailit]

//Nailit I think we all know it’s not worth it but it’s an addiction//
I know Bobbie :-(
I no longer smoke but cant seem to get of the nicorrete chewing gums.
Not the ideal but still better than smoking from my understanding.

[Old_Geezer]

Tobacco, no. Stupid thing to do and irresponsible & antisocial to inflict on others.
Fish, bacon, and other meats, yeah sure, brilliant.

[KARL]

My father's life was shortened by a smoker - himself.

[nailit]

//My father's life was shortened by a smoker - himself//
So was my own father's. Died at 70 from heart disease.
Even as a smoker, I could never understand how anyone defended it?
I hated been a smoker, just knew that I was an addict as much as a heroin addict was.

[Bobbisox1]

That’s a habit too Nailit, you’re not alone, I know a few people who rely on them

[ladybirder]

It's not just lung cancer it can cause as I've found out it is also the main cause of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease for those that don't know) which is also a killer. And I stopped smoking about 35 years ago.
So it's a NO from me as well.

[Togo]

I have smoked since I was about 16.....that's 56 years. I had a 5 or 6 year spell in my early 30s where I gave up and got really fit , cycling, swimming and running half marathons and the like, then started again. I had a non smoking related health scare last October (infected gall stone) that nearly killed me and put me in hospital for a fortnight. I have not had a ciggie since I came home, but I don't half fancy one sometimes. Seen both sides of the coin and will not preach. I genuinely enjoyed a ciggie and loved a cigar on a warm summers evening with a glass or two.

[andy-hughes]

I understand that tobacco is the only legally available substance that, if used for its intended purpose, runs the risk of killing you.

I remain appalled when I remember that veteran Tory MP Ken Clarke remained on the board of Imperial Tobacco, when serving as Minister Of Health at the same time.

It's hard to find a defence for this appalling habit - strangely, as a culture, we have managed to offer a sheen of respectability to this drug, and to alcohol, but we still get our skirts blown up by the use of heroin, which, if similarly legalised and controlled, could cut down probably more than seventy per cent of the nation's crimes.

[nailit]

What Andy ^ said!
Smoking causes more deaths than heroin.
Andy yet we look down on smack heads while smoking is still seen as sociably acceptable.

[Togo]

Never known anyone craving a Silk Cut to batter an old lady for her handbag to get one mind.

[nailit]

//Never known anyone craving a Silk Cut to batter an old lady for her handbag to get one mind//
There is that Togo, granted ;-)

[pixie374]

I think it's the opposite. I find usually people have more understanding of heroin addicts, drug addicts, alcoholics, while not actually "approving", but having some sympathy. Where smokers are more vilified adults disgusting, antisocial, stupid etc. They are all addictions in the end.

[nailit]

Having said that, Ive known many functional smack heads (as well as alcoholics) who live, fully functional lives and you would never guess in a million years that they have an addiction,

[ladybirder]

My daughter is still filling her lungs with the ??? that is in ecigs. She says the damage is done now so why stop. I've told her the more she smokes the bigger the chance of getting cancer of COPD will be. Falls on deaf ears.