I quit six years ago.

My mother called me one Sunday morning and I grabbed my coffee and pack of Marlboro's and headed out to the lanai all set to light one up. Before I even had the ciggy in my mouth my mother told me she had been dx'ed with lung cancer.

I promptly put the ciggy back in the pack...threw them out...and haven't smoked since.

Not an easy thing...I still miss it.

I found the gum helpful ONLY when I was at the "giving in" stage. It seemed to take the edge off.

They removed my mother's entire left lung and a third of her right lung.

My mother smoked right up until the day of surgery. She also said if they told her that the surgery would only buy her some time, she would continue to smoke.

Good luck everyone. Don't wait until they want to rip your lungs out.