Listen
You can and have to do this. Get the patches!! Seriously.
My Mom is now a lung cancer survivor and has COPD. At 71 we got her off the cigarettes using the patches. BUT...... it took 2 years of patches not 6 weeks.

We started at the 21 mg patches and she stayed there for a while. She had other medical issues going on and was dealing with added stress so we kept her on the 21 mg patches. The nicotine is what helps with anxiety and has that calming effect. IN patch form it isnt going to cause cancer.
Then we dropped to the 14mg patch and kept her there for a long time. Finally down to the 7mg patches and then off.. She has done fine. says she doesn't crave cigarettes at all and hates how they smell on others now.

Find a provider who will prescribe those patches . You might need to do additional paperwork to get them covered for longer than the reg period of time, but we got Moms covered.
Her provider prescribed them for smoking cessation and also anxiety. You might also consider if medically appropriate a low dose of ativan if you deal with anxiety at least during the first few weeks or when you drop down to the next dose.

Mom worked with Mayo providers on this and psychiatry . It worked for her, but again we took 2 years to get her off the patches. Nice and slow and easy. But you dont smoke at all once you go to the patch.....
Oh, and I wouldnt use the mints or the gum. Stick to the patches.
The oral versions of the nicotine still put you at risk for various cancers and are absorbed differently , can have a different impact and cause other issues like indigestion and stomach or GI problems. etc..

Best wishes