Should I quit smoking?

[roadrat]

I have emphysema and I have been smoking for many years.  I would like to get the patch and try to quit smoking. The question I have is that I have been told that if I suddenly stop smoking the shock to my system could cause me to get lung cancer.  Is this true?

[National Jewish]

This is absolutely false.
It is urgent that you quit smoking as soon as possible to slow the progression of the emphysema. Smoking causes emphysema to progress 3 times faster.  You may want to look at our Quit Smoking Topic Center at http://www.nationaljewish.org/topic/smoking_cessation.html for ways to quit.

[Debi50]

Yes, you must stop smoking! Quitting will not cause you to develop lung cancer. Where did you hear that from? If you continue to smoke, the emphysema will progress much faster. Stoping smoking, plus other healthy lifestyle changes, like regular exercise, can add many extra years to your life. A few years after not smoking, the deterioration in your lungs will become that of a non-smoker. Every smokers's lungs deteorate much faster than non smoker's. But emphysema does cause permanent damage to the lungs: and emphysema is progressive. But not smoking will slow the progression down. You CAN quit smoking. Its a matter of mind over matter. Take care...Debi

[normaj39]

absolutely, you should quit smoking!!!!......Smoking is probably what contributed to your emphysema in the first place.  Continuing to smoke, will only make it worse...not better.