Hi Cookie. My mother has been living with stage 4 lung cancer for about two years now. I quit shortly after we found out. I had been smoking since I was in my teens, more than 30 years. It was terrible in the beginning because I was going with her to the drs and chemo and smoking outside the cancer area.
I am quit for more than two years now and I can tell you that the suffering in the beginning is worth it. You will get to a point where you don't want to smoke any more at all. I wish you all the best with your quit and I am very sorry about your loss.
If you can, may I suggest to go lightly on the drinking in the beginning? I waited for a few months before I went out and on the first time I did not drink a lot. I was very careful not to get too drunk during the first year so that I always had some control. Now I am fine with it but this was a challenge for me personally.