Started smoking cigs (amongst other things;) ) my junior year of high school. Probably smoked around 1/2 - 1 pack a day...smoked liked two packs when I would go out. My junior year of college, I got a phone call from one of my best friends back home. She was crying hysterically because she had been diagnosed with throat cancer. I bought a greyhound ticket and took the first bus back to NYC to comfort her...I also smoked my last cig as I waited at the bus station. She underwent chemo, as well as, radiation therapy and is curently in remission. Ironically, the last time we hung out, I noticed that she picked up smoking again. Some people never learn.