Smoking increases your chances of getting it, sure. But it doesn't discriminate between smokers and non, as you are aware.
I'm so sorry for your loss. 28, that's sickening. :(
I think it takes a factor of several things to put us in bad health. If a person is obese and smokes, he is 10 times more likely to cut his life shorter. It's a combination of things that do us in. I can't believe that just one factor will do it. Smoking isn't good for us, sure, but if a person is in good physical condition, then the changes of him getting sick from smoking is cut in half. It depends on how well we take care of ourselves in other areas.
And please, please do take good care of yourself, SheLion! You are precious to more people than you will know.
I say that, because I have another friend, who means the world to me, who is suffering with a disease called "polycythemia." It's an overproduction of red blood cells, which thicken the blood. Currently his docs are ruling out if it is the fatal type (the cause not related to smoking). He had an unexpected stroke in late January at age 46. He smokes at least 2 packs/day.
I used to get on him about dehydration while seeing him for a back injury, which can contribute to his illness (the dehydration)...He's thin as a rail, so weight is not an issue. We're hoping that it's the "reversable" type (related to smoking which does increase the RBC level)...something he can change.
There is nothing anyone can say, nag, or do to get a smoker to quit, it's pointless. It has to come from within. Why on earth these "special interest, righteous, non-smoking nazi's" or government entities think they can dictate things like that is beyond me.
It's a personal choice, period. The risks are well known.
Just take care of you :)