Welthy Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 I've been thinking about this topic for awhile and saw Debi's comment in the LC Survivors catagory. Soooo --- what are your thoughts on the best comebacks to the ALWAYS asked "Do (or did) you smoke?" My only thought has been what Lance Armstrong said, "It's a disease, not a punishment." Any takers with finely honed comebacks? (I know you are out there, I've chuckled my way through these boards too often!) Welthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 The favorite one I use is, "Do you know your question has an accusative tone?" They usually backtrack and deny. But I figure the next time they are tempted to ask the question, maybe they will hesitate. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBeth Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 How about..."Why do you ask?" In my opinion, this will set up the "well-intentioned" person asking for a friendly lecture on what else causes lung cancer and why it isn't AS important to find out the cause as it is to find a CURE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 My favorite Response is "Why, Am I on Fire??" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geri Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 My favorite is: If you don't know me well enough to know, you don't know me well enough to ask! Geri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamataca Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 I learned Beth's response early in this journey (probably from Beth, even ). It is now my favorite, and I use it whenever anyone asks me any personal question. It sure turns it around! People flop around like a fish on a line to come up with a response. Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie B Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 We have a few threads on this and some people have had some GOOD REPLIES! The threads are somewhere in the General Forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 My answer when someone asks me if I smoke/d is: "No, I'm just lucky." Of course, then they think I'm crazy because no one with lung cancer is "lucky"...and I explain that I'm DAMN lucky it was found due to ignorance of the medical community and the general population that doesn't understand that LC has other causes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eppie Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 I usually come back and say "The better question to ask is what hazardous chemicals are/were you exposed to in your life?" Daddy worked for Exxon refining oil into gasoline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 My favorite response is one that someone on this baord suggested quite some time ago. "Only when I'm on fire." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welthy Posted July 11, 2006 Author Share Posted July 11, 2006 Sorry, I didn't know (but should have) that this thread has already been done! Great answers though!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrea Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 I say about my mom "Yes,but she quit over 25 years ago, however it does not matter. Most people don't realize, but about 50% of those diagnosed either never smoked or quit many many years ago" This way I educate them to something they didn't know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyoung20 Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 "only after sex"----hehe just kidding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaze100 Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 I always say, "No I never smoked, but I had a lot of friends that did". Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dumpy222 Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 It really gets my back up when people ask that question!! Its as if they are saying that people with lung cancer deserve it. My doctor actually said to me about dad "well he smoked for 60 years so what do you expect" I could of slapped the doctor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 The doctor needs slapping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myrnalu Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 The Dr definatly needed slapping.I get it from my son at times.When I get scared of going for tests and he says well thats what happens when you smoked 40 yrs.Want to slap him too. I like Dons answer its a disease not a punishment.Im gonna go with that one. Marie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aurora06 Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post. Yes, if you have lung ca it seems to be assumed that you smoked. My mother never smoked and died from lung cancer. Her Dr seemed to assume that she smoked and actually put that she had a long history of smoking in her record. I took extreme issue and made them correct the record. He DID need slapped as does anyone who asks that question of someone who has lung or any other type of cancer. Some great comebacks, especially the simple but to the point "why do you ask?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie B Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Dear Dear Aurora06 Oh My God! That is just TERRIBLE what your mother's doctor did. ((((((AURORA06))))))) I am Speechless!! Oh How Very Very Sad! I am So Very Sorry this Happened to You and to your Mom's memory! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richinsdakota Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 I simply answer, "yes, and I still do, since noone knows what causes cancer." ? Rich B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy RN Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 Mine is And does that matter? If I have time I add do you ask liver or pancreatic cancer pts if they were alcoholics? Do you ask someone with colon cancer did you eat a high fat diet? There is always some idiot who just does not think! I am SMOKIN hot! Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missyk Posted July 15, 2006 Share Posted July 15, 2006 This is probably horrible of me...but when a friend of mine who I'd lost contace with contacted me again and in catching up we discussed his wife having been treated for breast cancer and Mom having lung cancer...the first words out of his mouth were "Does she smoke?" I asked him, "Does or did your wife? You DO realize that "they" SAY smoking increases your risk of EVERY type of cancer...not just lung cancer, don't you??" I find it VERY unfair that everyone seems to ask that question when it comes to lung cancer but NOT with other cancers!! How would those other ppl feel if the first question was about an addiction that they might have broken (or might not have) many years ago??? Puts a new perspective on it for alot of people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ssgg Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 RandyW: that you for the laugh, I needed one today...I love that response! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aurora06 Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 I've given this more thought. If you can put aside the anger at the question just act confused when they ask about smoking...like, what? did they smoke? well, why? And just wait for them to say something. I guess it depends on how much effort you want to put forth. But I think the "act stupid" response will put THEM on the spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.