I quit several times. Finally quit cold turkey in 1982. That was seriously hard and for some reason harder then the other few times I’d tried to quit. Every once in a while after, I’d actually have a nightmare that I was smoking again. I knew that if I had one cigarette I’d be hooked again. The cravings stopped all together about 10 or so years ago. Until then I would have an occasional craving.
I quit cold turkey in 1992 from a two pack per day habit. I'd already had a severe MI and bypass surgery but kept smoking.
I finally quit in 1992, but came down with throat cancer in 1997. My doctor and oncologist both said smoking was nonetheless the cause. Surgery and radiation seems to have actually cured the throat cancer.
Then in 2005 I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. The urologist said smoking was the cause. 13 years after I quit smoking, it still plagued me. Fortunately I haven't had a recurrence of that.
I also have frequent nightmares that I am smoking full bore again. I have absolutely no desire to smoke. But the nightmares wake me up and I just feel grateful I actually quit for good.