Hello! Congratulations on quitting smoking, and I'm hoping six years since your cancer treatment. Steroids are miserable.
Here are my suggestions, and I'm sure others will have more.
1) Enter your information on MFP and start logging everything you eat, even if it's over your calorie allowance. Start making small changes.
2) 2 lb a week may be a good goal to begin with, but restricting your calories for a long time will most likely lead to "falling off the wagon". After a while, I'd suggest changing your goal to 1 lb a week.
3) Weigh and measure your food. Portion sizes are important. Also, look for the database entries without asterisks. They have a variety of measurements and I think are most accurate. You can usually find them by looking for the food first. For example, beef, ground. Or, Bananas, raw. If nothing comes up, try adding an "s" to fruits and vegetables.
4) For many of us belly fat is the last to go. It will when the weight comes off. There's not much else you can do. Core exercises will tighten the muscles underneath, but the fat will still be there. Get some form of exercise, though, it's good for us!
5) Take your time. There's no sense in losing a lot of weight and going back to old habits.
6) You might want to read through the forum and send some friend requests (with a note). I've found the social aspect and one friend in particular has been very encouraging.

Now if I can only follow my own advice, maybe I'd get this last 25 lb off! I've lost 45 and managed not to regain, even when travelling and dealing with aging parents, etc., so I'm happy, but still need to focus on staying within my calories.
Good luck!

Done!