My grandfather smoked his whole life. I was about 10 years old when my mother said to him, "if you ever want to see your grandchildren graduate you have to stop immediately." Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized exactly what was at stake. He gave it up immediately. Three years later he died of lung cancer. My mother said to me, "don't ever smoke. Please don't put your family through what your grandfather put us through." I agreed. At 28, I have never touched a cigarette. I must say, I feel a very slight sense of regret for never having done it, because your post gave me cancer anyway.