BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Jackie Thomas looks at a picture of her parents from 1958 when they were healthy and happy. She said the last years of their lives was anything but. Both of her parents suffered from emphysema and other breathing problems due to years of smoking.

"We had oxygen at home, we had all the breathing treatments and all but it just does not help. Death is the only thing that stops it," said Thomas.

Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer, according to the American Lung Association. Usually by the time it is detected, it is too late. Only 14 percent of lung cancer patients survive more than five years after they are diagnosed, said the organization.

"What happens when you breathe in the nicotine it goes into your lungs and into your blood stream causing a soothing effect, so you're feeling good and then you want to keep doing that. People don't know how addicting it is," said Lauren Franconi of the American Lung Association.

There are more than 4,000 chemicals found in cigarette smoke other than tobacco, including ammonia, carbon monoxide, and rat poison, according to the Web site, www.quitsmokingsupport.com. And at least 69 of those chemicals are known to cause cancer.

Denis Rocha's mom was 69-years-old when she passed away from lung cancer in 2003. Rocha said she and her family tried to convince her mom for years to stop smoking. Now she hopes sharing her story with others will convince them to kick the habit.

"If you have a family member that smokes go up to them, talk to them, tell them you love them and that you care about them and you want to see them later on, I'm not going to be able to see my mom anymore because lung cancer took her," said Rocha.