It is a study which comes to us from the United States which demonstrates it. In heavy smokers, the risk of lung cancer decreases sharply within five years of quitting. But even 25 years after the last cigarette, it is still three times higher than for non-smokers.
A RISK OF LUNG CANCER THAT DID NOT TOTALLY DISAPPEAR!
Every day off is beneficial for health. The former smoker gradually regains taste and smell, recovers from the breath and eventually reduces the risk of stroke, heart attack and improves his life expectancy. But a new study shows that the risk of lung cancer never completely disappears for an ex-smoker.
The study was conducted within the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee, USA and published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The researchers studied the cases of 8 patients, followed for a period of 907 to 25 years. In this group, 34 lung cancers were detected. In 284% of the cases, the patients were “heavy smokers”, that is to say they smoked a packet per day for at least 93 years.
Within five years of quitting, the risk of lung cancer drops by 39% compared to those who still smoke. Year after year, the risk continues to decrease, but even 25 years after quitting, it remains three times higher than that of non-smokers, that is to say those who have never smoked. These results should make it possible to improve the care of ex-smokers.
Often, after 15 years of discontinuation, vigilance for possible lung cancer decreases. However, 4 in 10 lung cancers concern former “heavy smokers” who quit more than 15 years ago.
Source : Pourquoidocteur.fr/
