Smoking & Lung

Question: Does quitting after years of smoking actually decrease your chances of getting lung cancer, or has the damage already been done?

Answer: Quitting smoking greatly reduces a person's risk of developing lung cancer, and the risk keeps decreasing the longer a person refrains from smoking. Smoking is the most important risk factor for lung cancer. More than 80% of lung cancers is thought to be caused by smoking. If you stop smoking, the risk of developing lung cancer gradually declines until, at 10 years, the risk is 30-50% less than for a person who continues to smoke.

Smoking is also a risk factor for other cancers. The risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, and esophagus decreases significantly 5 years after quitting. The risk of developing bladder cancer and cancer of the cervix also decreases after just a few years of being smoke-free.

Besides lowering the risk of cancer, quitting smoking has many more health benefits. The smoker's heart rate and blood pressure, which are usually high while smoking, begin to return to normal. Within a few days of quitting, the smoker's sense of taste and smell return, and breathing becomes easier. Quitters also reduce their risk of developing infections like pneumonia. After 10-15 years, a previous smoker's risk of death approaches that of a person who never smoked.

People who want to stop smoking should ask their doctor about the method that is best for them.

Question: Is it possible to get lung cancer from second-hand smoke? I've never smoked, but I've worked as a bartender in a smoky bar for 20 years.

Answer: Yes. Second-hand smoke (also called involuntary smoking, passive smoking, and environmental tobacco smoke) contains over 4,000 chemicals, 60 of which are known to cause or promote cancer. Nonsmokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke absorb nicotine and other chemicals just as smokers do: They just don't absorb as much, since the smoke they breathe is less concentrated than what a smoker inhales. But if you're consistently exposed to second-hand smoke over a long time, your body will likely have higher levels of these harmful chemicals than someone who isn't exposed.

Second-hand smoke causes about 3,000 lung cancer deaths a year. Furthermore, second-hand smoke can worsen existing lung problems in people with allergies, asthma, or chronic bronchitis. Second-hand smoke can also cause eye irritation, sore throats, and hoarseness. If you're worried about second-hand smoke, take steps to reduce your exposure and see your doctor to help assess your risk.

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