Cocoa,
I too was addicted to the nicotene and menthol in my cigarretes and after quitting completely while I had radiation in 1997, then thought I could get away with smoking 1 or 2 cigarretes a day. Dr. didn't like it, but said if I kept it at that level, I was probably OK. I did, but 4 years later, I had a new tumor, this time on the voice box, and wound up as a total laryngectomee. This disease can have very, if not deadly, cosmetic and life altering side effects. You wind up with your leg bone in your jaw, you can't eat any of the foods you love because your mouth is too dry, etc. etc. While I agree, only your mother is going to convince herself to quit, if you could get her to read some of the posts on this board, she might just decide to do it herself. Of course, if she winds up having major surgery or radiation, she will probably quit at that time by sheer necessity. Hang in there.

Take care,
Eileen