Nervous about lung cancer!!!!!!?

I am 35 years old. My mother died of lung cancer one year ago. She didnt have any symptoms, just got sick one day, we took her to the hospital, she was diagnosed and died 6 months later. She had smoked most of her life. She died at 58. I had smoked for about 15 years, then I quit for four.years. Recently I had started smoking again. I smoked about a pack a day. I know that I shouldnt have but I did. I have now quit. It has been two weeks. I will NEVER go back to it again, but I am scared to death i will get cancer. what should I do? I f eel like my lungs hurt but i think i might just be becoming paranoid. I dont want to die of cancer but I feel like I have started something and now it cant be stopped. I hate myself for smoking. Do you think my body can heal itself?

Congratulations on stopping again! Please don't start again. You are fairly young, your lungs can get better. You need to follow up with your doctor and get a chest x-ray every year. I think you will be OK. And don't worry about it, if your going to get cancer your going to get cancer no one knows. But you can be proactive and go to your doctor yearly and get a check up that will include a chest xray. I'm sure your Mom had a cough that had gotten worse, she probably assumed it was just the "smokers cough" if you get a cough and doesn't seem to be getting better go to y our doctor. Its the only answer I can give you. Chest x-ray and maybe a ct scan can give you that little assurance that for now everything is ok. Once again keep up the good work by stopping smoking if you do start again see your doctor he can help. An I am sorry for your loss of your Mom.

dont smoke again and
pray for GOD

Please have faith. I was a smoker and quit a couple of years ago but I was told that- yes your lungs do start to heal themselves to quite a reasonable extent when you stop- it IS a positive step and its never too late. Its all positive.
First of all - go to the doctors and organise a test so that you can put the thought out of your mind once and for all. Do it now.
Secondly, don't ever take up smoking again. Don't hang around smokers or go where they congregate for at least 6 months.

Good luck sweetheart

I do understand how you feel. My grandfather died of lung cancer and strangely enough he never smoked a day in his life nor did anyone who lived with him. Cancer is such a strange and terrifying disease. But the truth is there is just no way to know. Quitting smoking definitely helps and I hope that you don't pick the habit back up again. Nobody knows who will or won't get cancer so there is no reason to stress yourself out about it (easier said than done) If you really are that nervous about it why don't you talk to your doctor about it and see what he recommends that you do about it. Smoking increases your risk of cancer we all know that but quitting also decreases it. I hope you find some peace with this issue because you are much too young to let this take over your life.

Do not hate yourself, first of all. Quiting is the a excellent first step, but now you need to do some excercises to help strengthen and clear out your lungs. Taking steps now will greatly help you side step problems smoking can cause, and not just cancer.

This advice may sound hypocritical, for I myself am a menthol smoker, about a pack a day as well. I however know the risks I am taking, and I accept them as I know what I am doing, and do so of my own free will.

However, This does not mean I wish others who do not want to smoke to suffer. Some steps to take to clear your lungs would be:

2. Get plenty of antioxidants in your diet. Leafy greens, tomatoes, and green tea are all excellent sources of this. What antioxidants do is basically help, HELP,prevent cells from abnormal mutations.Especially important if you were a heavier smoker, or smoked for a long period of time which, gathering from your question, you were.

3. Take some stress relieving excersize classes, or exercise however you feel most comfortable. Find a routine you enjoy doing, one that you would do just for the sheer fun of it if nothing else. I reccomend step or dance aerobics, jogging, riding a bike, anything that falls into the cardiovascular exersize genre. You want to get your heart and lungs healthy again, so increasing vital bloodflow is a good way of doing this. (Remember, consult your doctor before starting ANY excerise program to find out what your body can, in a literal sense, handle).

3. Start a program now to keep from going back to smoking. Do NOT turn to eating, or other bad habits to replace the old one. A active hobby that will help you unwind would be best.

Hope you the best of luck, you'll be fine!

Cancer is largely a hereditary disease. Did anyone
else in your family suffer from it? It's because your
mother smoked for as long as she did, that she
developed the symptoms that led to her death.
I can sympathize and empathize: my dad smoked
for more than twice as long as your mom, and he
also died of lung cancer--at the age of 66.
If you think you're feeling the symptoms of cancer,
the one and only thing you can do for yourself--
now that you have quit smoking--is get yourself
tested.
If you do have a tumor, it might be benign. But, if
it's not... there are treatments for cancer. (There
is no cure; not yet, at least. But a lot more people
than ever are surviving that dreaded disease.)

Take care, best regards and good luck!

My mother had had a cold, but wanted to go to the er, she felt something was wrong. She was right, she had pneumonia, and the radiologist noticed a lung tumor. Cancer, but first stage, extremely lucky to be found early, treated with chemo and radiation. Had smoked since 13, she was 68, when diagnosed. She smoked throughout the treatment, two-three packs a day, just like another day in her life! She has survived, five yrs now, still smoking. I am a smoker, want to quit, have tried several times, never able to completely stop, always two or three a day. With meds, and without. I don't want to smoke, I hate how my car and house smells. My mom lives with us, her room is so caked with nicotine, I'm thinking of replacing the carpet, when she passes. It costs me money, people glaring when you smoke in public. I think your body can definately heal itself, quitting now will make your retirement years active, and not housebound on oxygen tanks. I hope I've motivated you to continue with your goal of not smoking, now I have to get the strength to do it, myself! Good luck.

It sounds as though your body is adjusting itself to your recent quitting. It will take time and your body will adjust, and go through withdrawl symptoms. Changing your habits will help and maintaining a positive attitude. Here is a web site where you can gain valuable cancer info.
http://medlineplus.gov/