Annelie

My mother died 14 years ago. She had lung cancer - an operable form and she had gone through chemotherapy, too. She died of a stroke about 6 months after her diagnosis.

And she was a smoker.

I wanted to create this web site to remember her and to talk about the mixed emotions that I went through during this time. Mainly I want to help other people who's loved one is seriously ill from the effects of cigarettes. Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer among women, but I'm guessing most people think it's breast cancer. I think that's because women with breast cancer haven't contributed to their illnesses - 'they aren't to blame'. Also, many times women are older when they are diagnosed with lung cancer. The articles I've read in women's magazines rarely address lung cancer, and when they do the patient 'had never smoked a day in their lives'. I'm guessing emphysema is mainly caused from smoking, also. I think it's funny how they changed the name to COPD - to make it less stigmatizing I would guess.

My mother smoked. Lots and lots. She started smoking in her 20's and never quit - not even after her lung cancer diagnosis. I'm guessing since lung cancer is the leading cancer killer among women, and that most lung cancer is due to the effects of smoking, there are many people out there who have lost a loved one to lung cancer, or are maybe facing this battle right now. I thought it was time we should have a forum for this subject - not to blame the people who smoke but to express ourselves - the way adult children of alcoholics do. They even have a support group (Al-anon). So I plan to write once a week about my mother, about cigarettes, and about my mother and her cigarettes. I welcome any comments from people with similar feelings and life events. This web site is dedicated to my goofy, elegant, smart, beautiful, depressed, soulful, mean, strong and smokin' mother, Annelie.