My Red Flag Is Up

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bcalvanese

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My father died of lung cancer more than 20 years after quitting smoking, and my uncle (his brother) met the same fate more than 20 years after quitting smoking. My other uncle (his other brother) never quit smoking, and never got cancer (yet).

I saw a show on TV once a long time ago about a doctor who had a theory about quitting smoking actually causing cancer. I know it sounds strange, and I posted about it here a while back...

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-discussion/364067-may-sound-strange-but.html

Today, I did a quick internet search and found this...

Does quitting smoking cause cancer? By Ixedoc and Baab Mallya | Sulekha Creative

Now my red flag is up. I quit smoking for about 4 months by using e-cig's, but I have recently fallen off the wagon after taking a drag of my wife's cigarette and started smoking part time again.

Now... I'm thinking of using e-cig's to limit my smoking, and not totally quit. This may sound like an exuse to keep smoking, but I have smoked for over 40 years, and smoked 2 to 3 packs a day. If I cut down to even half a pack a day and used the e-cig's as a supliment, it probably wouldn't do much more harm than the 40+ years of heavy smoking that I already have under my belt.

Here is the article...




The sub specialty of Neurosurgery that interested me was Neurosurgical Oncology, study of brain and spinal tumors. What better place to do that than at Memorial Sloan-KetteringCancer Centerin New York. I was distressed by the sheer number of cancer cases of all types.

Soon after I started my Fellowship as I was examining a patient, he said “doc I used to smoke but gave it up six months ago, now they tell me I have lung cancer”. I never paid much attention to that remark until fourth patient remarked similarly that she had quit smoking few months back and now she has lung cancer.

It was at Sloan-Kettering for the first time the association between smoking and lung cancer was identified. Being a smoker myself, I was surprised at the unusual remarks these patients were making and decided pay more attention to it.

From that day every single patient I saw with a brain tumor that had metastasized from lung, I kept a record as to their smoking pattern. Also made a notation as to if they had quit smoking, how long ago.

I even went to Thoracic Surgery ward and started screening patient charts, what I was noticing was a sinister pattern. Majority of patients with lung cancer were smokers who after several years of smoking had quit smoking.

What is the link here? After one stops smoking, the healing process that starts, doesn’t know when to stop?
Are lung cancers triggered by stopping smoking?

The clinically high correlation between smoking and carcinoma of the lungs has been the focal point in societal campaigns against the habit and the tobacco lobby. In an overview of personal history in a number of lung cancer patients locally, we am struck by the more than casual relationship between the appearance of lung cancer – and an abrupt and recent cessation of the smoking habit in many, if not most cases.

The association is more than just casual – development of cancer within a few months of eschewing cigarette smoking.
Over a period of 4 years, a total of 312 cases were treated for carcinoma of pulmonary origin: of this number, 182 patients had quit smoking within five to fifteen months prior to their being diagnosed with lung cancer. Of the 182 patients 142 were male and 40 were females, with ages ranged between 47 to 74.

Each one of had been addicted to the habit for no less than twenty-five years, smoking in excess of twenty sticks a day. The striking direct statistical correlation between cessation of smoking to the development of lung malignancies, more than 60% plus, is too glaring to be dismissed as coincidental.
It is our premise that a surge and spurt in re-activation of bodily healing and repair mechanisms of chronic smoke-damaged respiratory epithelia is induced and spurred by an abrupt discontinuation of habit, goes awry, triggering uncontrolled cell division and tumor genesis. In normal tissue healing, anabolic and catabolic processes achieve equilibrium approximately 6-8 weeks after the original insult. When an imbalance occurs between these phases occur in the healing process, disruptions in repair limitations occur leading to tumor genesis – this sequence is best exemplified in the formation of keloids from scars (1, 2)

Nicotine stimulates corticotrophin – releasing factor (CRF) besides increasing the level of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), both of which interfere with immune systems (3) Abrupt withdrawal of the addictive drug could trigger derangement of the ‘smoking – steroid’ conferred immunity, priming the healing lung epithelia to dangerous levels uncontrolled cell division

Should chronic addicts be weaned or tapered off tobacco instead of being advised to giving up smoking overnight? Should the immune and re-vitalizing mechanisms be given time lapse to adjust to the withdrawal? Larger studies and mass reviews of case histories in lung cancer patients could throw more light on this, rather unusual clinical observation. No doubt, tobacco kills too many. Or does it?
We are pleased to inform you that your manuscript entitled "Are lung cancers triggered by giving up smoking?" (MH-Ref. No. YMEHY-D-06-00801R2) has been accepted for publication in Medical Hypotheses.

All corresponding authors of accepted papers for Medical Hypotheses receive free membership of the Medical Hypotheses Network (MHN) for the year in which their paper was accepted and the following year. As an MHN member you are entitled to free access to the Journal online. Your membership number is 1382 and instructions for activating your access are appended below this letter.

With kind regards

Bruce G Charlton MD
Editor in Chief
Medical Hypotheses
 

440BB

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If I'm reading this correctly, they are theorizing that the abrupt stopping of nicotine consumption could be a causal factor, not tobacco.

Nicotine stimulates corticotrophin – releasing factor (CRF) besides increasing the level of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), both of which interfere with immune systems (3) Abrupt withdrawal of the addictive drug could trigger derangement of the ‘smoking – steroid’ conferred immunity, priming the healing lung epithelia to dangerous levels uncontrolled cell division

Based on the above, a slow weaning off of nicotine is suggested. Vaping is a far superior vehicle for that weaning process than smoking, as it does not continue to force thousands of other chemicals and smoking particulates into our bodies.

It seems to me this theory further justifies moving from smoking to vaping fully as soon as one can, and gradually dropping the nicotine levels. If this theory proves accurate, vaping is a better choice than just quitting smoking cold turkey.
 

twisted1

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I personally feel that you can be justified in your concerns if this was a published article, of a formal study, not just a hypothesis.

All corresponding authors of accepted papers for Medical Hypotheses receive free membership of the Medical Hypotheses Network (MHN) for the year in which their paper was accepted and the following year.
 
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twisted1

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I don't know if it's true or not.

But if there "is" anything to it, don't you think it would be something that we should at least be aware of?

My two cents: Many that suddenly quit smoking realize the negative healt impact of their 20-30 year addiction. Tightening of the chest, restricted arterial flow, restricted lung capacity, etc...
I'm speaking from my own non-diagnosed perceptions. Have I been to a M.D. in the last two years. No.
Is it possible that I have an undiagnosed condition? Yes.
Is my decision to stop smoking/find nicotine replacement system based on perceived negative health impact that may have to be faced soon? Yes.
Would I have researched vaping, tool, style, liquids to the point that I have and not looked back if everything was just hunky dory? NO.
 

Racehorse

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Surgeon General's report. How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease

Once you understand the etiology of how the actual biological damage occurs, then you will understand that it has very little to do with nicotine.

A Report of the Surgeon General: How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Disease, 2010 | SurgeonGeneral.gov

1) reducing the number of cigarettes smoked daily did not lower the cancer risk
2) people who switched to pure nicotine had the same health benefits as those who quit smoking completely.

Of course, reading a document of over 400 pages is not something some people are going to do, but it's out there if you want to read in depth about how smoking causes disease, exactly how.

I am not concerned about nicotine, as much as I am concerned about flavorings and / chemicals in vape juice, FWIW. At any rate, vaping is better than smoking. And not doing either is best. :)
 
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Buggs5347

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Since you felt the need to repeat the same thing in a new thread, i guess I'll just copy my same reply from your other thread.:facepalm:

I think you are over thinking it and applying this "theory" incorrectly. I am familiar with the theory, and it's a relatively short period of time after smoking cessation that this applies. The theory is a questionable hypothesis, not proven fact.

Getting the big C, 20 years after quitting smoking, does not equate that they got it from quitting smoking. There are far more risks of getting cancer or other horrible illness from continuing to smoke than there ever would be from quitting smoking.

Eat healthy and get plenty of natural anti-oxidant rich foods or supplement with vitamin C if you are worried about it. Those are the proactive things you can do.
 

Faylool

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I agree that it's interesting hypothesis. Scarey though that a person might have to keep smoking to keep from getting lung cancer. Maybe there is a toxin in the cigarettes that kills it. The use chemo to the point of close to death to kill cancer. Maybe low doses of chemo for the rest of your life would be an option. Oh great fun. I know doses of antibiotics kept my son from having chronic ear infections. Anyway I look at it, glad its not me. Ya know?
 

EddardinWinter

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Most recent studies suggest that your risk associated with smoking remain the same for the first year you quit smoking. Your risk declines in a roughly linear fashion over a five year period. At the end of the fifth year smoke free, you have the same cancer risk as a non-smoker. None of this is a fact, but there are published studies that reinforce this suggestion.

EDIT: I correct myself. The risk of heart disease is as I described above. Apparently the cancer risk abates anywhere from a 10 year to 30 year period depending on age, smoking habit, sex, etc. My apologies for the misinformation.
 
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