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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
smoking and lung cancer risk
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smoking and lung cancer risk
by neuro needs, Jun 20, 2006 12:00AM
I'm 28 and I've smoked a pack a day for the past 10 years or so. There were 2 years that I didn't smoke. So about 8 years total, a pack a day. The fact that my grandfather recently died of lung cancer after a lifetime of smoking leads to my question..... If I never smoke again, am I at any sort of realistic risk for lung cancer due to smoking, later in life?
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Jun 26, 2006 12:00AM
, Jun 26, 2006 12:00AM
The risk of lung cancer at your age, with this smoking history, is extremely small. If you never smoke again, after 5 years or so your risk of lung cancer will be just about the same as that of people your age that have never smoked.
Member Comments (2)
by bpj60609, Jun 20, 2006 12:00AM
If I recall correctly, a pack-a-day smoker that quits at 30 has a 1-2% chance of developing lung cancer by age 75. Your risk is probably modestly lower than that because you temporarily quit for a couple of years between 18 and 28, and you would be completely quitting before you are 30. So, the answer to your question is that you probably do have an increased chance of lung cancer (vis a vis a nonsmoker) no matter what you do, but it's still going to be a very small lifetime risk.
