Did she have a choice of smoking or not smoking other people's smoke?

Today I visited my older sister who was diagnosed with Lung Cancer 6 months ago, caused by passive smoking.

She is only 60 and was once a beautiful lady, the cancer has spread to her brain she is now 6stone bald, cannot speak, is covered in sores which are heavily bandaged has lost the use of her arm and leg and needs 24 hour nursing care, there is no room in a local Hospice and has been told she needs to get worse before a place can be found, she worked in an office with 4 smokers passive smoking.

She didn't have a choice but you smokers have!!

My dad gave up smoking in his late twenties, still had to inhale the others's smoke at the office... Us kids were passive smokers at every family reunion (regular occasions where I come from) and so we all became smokers at one point or another, later in life... Many babies have died early due to smoke inhalation; children asthma has become rife... Inflicting passive smoking is criminal; there should be heavy penalties for that, but oh no, it is far more important to make sure motorists pay their parking fines.


You haven't been here for a few days so I imagine things have got worse... Hope you'll be OK.

thanks. Report It

I am so sorry to hear about your sister. My dad has cancer of the bladder - apparantly caused by passive smoking (hes worked in pubs all his life, and never smoked).

No, she did not have a choice.

Your family really has my sympathy.

It must be so hard seeing your sister in such a state.

I have been a smoker for nearly 14 years. I am now getting to the stage where I am smoking out of habit rather than enjoyment.

I can't believe they won't give her a bed in a hospice until she gets worse. That is disgusting.

My father passed away of Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma about 3 years ago. His cancer was not smoke related. He never drank or smoke. My family are Mormons. He chose not to go into a hospice, but die at home. He had a Macmillan nurse that went in daily to help my step mum. I am sure they would be able to help you.

I am grateful that they were able to ease his pain, as I am sure you would want that help for your sister.

You are in my thoughts xx

That's very sad. I've never smoked myself. It's a disgusting habit if you ask me. My sympathy to you and your family

Well said. My mother died of lung disease secondary to smoking (when she was younger)...she smoked for just 6 years before she stopped. She was also in a work enviroment with smokers which her doctor said was the ultimate cause of her problems as she hadnt smoked long enough to cause the severe damage she had.
My sympathy is with you and your family;

I am so sorry about you sister. I have never smoked in my life and nearly all my colleagues at work do smoke. I come home every day and have to go straight to the shower because all my clothes smell of smoke. We do not have a choice but they have, they should respect others and if they want to smoke why cannot they smoke outside. Many companies have banned smoking in buildings. I think smoking should be banned everywhere. If the want to smoke they should do it at home. I know what you are going through because I lost my mum to cancer 7months ago. I wish you and your family all the best.

I am so sorry about your sister. It is so unfair. My mother passed away from bladder cancer, never smoked a day in her life. I spent the last 5 weeks of her life with her in hospice this summer, she was died just a few weeks past her 59th birthday.

I hope you can get her into hospice soon. There is a special air type bed that she needs that is like a regular hospital bed but allows for air flow and prevents sores.

My mothers didn't effect her brain, the last few days were so hard, it is horrific to not be able to help your loved one. I know you know what I'm talking about. I wish there was something more I could say.

Bladder cancer is often caused by smoking. It angers me to see people who throw their life away with cigarettes, it angers me that they are standing here while so many loved ones who never smoked have suffered so much. I don't get how they can poison their bodies knowingly. Not to mention killing others around them.

My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

I'm really sorry to hear about your sister. It's really awful.
But... this is why they made those new regulations in companies - smoking is not allowed during work - except outdoors in special, marked places. I know this can't help your sister anymore, but nowadays, non-smokers should be protected by this new law.
And, of course, the people you sister worked with are to blame. Knowing she wasn't a smoker they should have protected her and taken their smoking outside - it would've been the polite thing to do. The company she worked for also has a part in this - according to existing regulations they should've had rules regarding smoking, they should've created special smoking places, so that non-smokers would not be affected.
If I were you, I'd sue the company. They deserve it. They don't care for their employees. If you win, you can get you sister into a hospice with all she needs to make her remaining days better.
P.S. I'm a smoker and I never smoke around those who don't and I always ask permission from the people I'm with if they're okay with me smoking near them. It's polite and I know I must give them the choice of being healthy.

HOW CAN YOU BLAME SMOKE,DO YOU DRIVE A CAR THAT IS JUST AS BAD.