doctor's advice to smoking grandmother

[shootingstar]

A work colleague told me yesterday of her 97-yr. old grandmother in Hong Kong who still smokes a pack of cigarettes a day: there's no point in her stopping because at her age, her frail (?) body might not handle the shock of suddenly not smoking.

She has no cancer. Very unusual

I'm wondering it's more of an unspoken message at her very old age: might as well enjoy it at her age.

[hebe]

My Grandma gave up in her late 70s, after her doctor told her to stop either the cigarettes or the whisky. She gave up the ciggies and enthusiastically embraced the booze for another 8 years. No cancer either.

[shootingstar]

Gee, hebe.

Meanwhile a brother-in-law died of throat cancer @ 40 yrs. He smoked at least 1 pack a day probably since his late teens.

[Crankin]

My dad just turned 87 and still smokes. He hid it or cut down a lot before my mom died, but I don't think he's ever stopped.
He had a "mild" heart attack a couple of years ago, got 2 stents, as well as stents in the legs. Other than that, he has arthritis and has been living with prostate cancer for 20+ years.
No lung cancer, COPD, etc. He's very active (well not sports wise) and sharp in the mind.

[shootingstar]

My parents know a guy who has had prostate cancer for last 20 yrs. and he is around same age as my father. (83)

The problem is that they are clinging onto a belief that my father (who has prostate cancer and is spreading slowly now. Diagnosed 3 yrs. ago) will live like that guy...long.

This most likely will not happen, but we are dealing with denial.. :( It's a complicated situation. But other than this terminal disease, he has no other health problems.