Tell your Mom for me that I too went back to smoking just ONE cigarrette a day about 6 months post radiation. Four years later I got to be a total laryngectomee and am lucky it wasn't worse. Maybe that is something she can look forward to.

Right now I'd like to shoot my husband who finally quit last summer when he got dental implants. Two weeks ago I found a half a dozen butts in the bottom of the garbage bag and asked where these came from. He said he had finally emptied the car ash tray. I knew that had been done last summer, but let it go. Yesterday I get into the car and check the ash tray and it is again overflowing. He still says he is not smoking. Yeh, right.

I imagine what happened to your Mom was she was out with friends who smoked and figured just one wouldn't hurt or she was put in a very stressful situation that brought on the nicotine urge. I have experienced both. However, I haven't had one since the surgery in 2001 and have no desire to smoke.

How much is she smoking and when? If she can identify the reason and address it, she may be able to avoid the situation that triggers the urge and make it easier to quit again. Tell her I found out the hard way, and like an alcoholic, EVEN ONE CIG IS ONE TOO MANY. She went through too much pain to do this to herself again, but only she can make herself quit.

Take care,
Eileen