Quitting smoking at any age helps reduce the risk of cancer, according to a large study, which found that the most substantial reduction in cancer risk occurred after the first ten years of quitting smoking.
The risk of developing cancer halved in people who quit for at least 15 years, compared with those who continued to smoke, with the risk of lung cancer falling further and faster, especially in those who quit before middle age.
Researchers analyzed medical data of nearly 3 million Koreans who had undergone health examinations starting in 2002 and recorded cases of cancer, including lung, liver, stomach and colorectal tumors, until 2019. Over the course of the study, nearly 200,000 participants were diagnosed with cancer.
“Regardless of age, quitting smoking has been shown to reduce the risk of developing cancer, especially lung cancer, with early quitting before middle age leading to significant reductions,” says Dr. Jin Kyoung OhWHO led the study at the National Cancer Center near Seoul.
After a mean follow-up of thirteen years and five months, the risk of lung cancer among quitters fell by 42%, with smaller declines of 27%, 20% and 14% recorded for liver, colorectal and stomach cancers, respectively, compared with those who it continued to smoke. Details are published in Jama network opened.
Cancer causes more than a quarter of all deaths in Britain each year, with lung cancer being by far the most common. Smoking causes at least 15 different types of cancer, affecting the lungs, bladder, stomach and intestines and organs such as the kidneys and liver. Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of cancer and death in the country.
According to the study, smokers who quit before age 50 had a 57% reduction in lung cancer risk during the follow-up period, compared with those who continued to puff. Those who quit at age 50 experienced a 40% reduction in lung cancer risk over that time.
“Quitting smoking, regardless of age, can have significant health benefits,” Dr Oh told the Guardian. “Individuals who quit smoking after middle age had a 40% lower risk of developing lung cancer compared to those who continued to smoke. Don’t think it’s too late. We encourage you to consider starting your smoking cessation journey.”
The development of cancer is a multi-stage process in which DNA mutations accumulate until one or more cells become damaged in a way that causes them to multiply uncontrollably. Robert West, emeritus professor of health psychology at University College London and expert in the field of addiction. The further down that path the smoker is when he quits, the more likely he is to eventually develop cancer.
“This study confirms two crucial facts,” West said. “One is that it can take many years for the risk of cancer to decrease compared to continuing to smoke. The other is that the decline is greater among those who quit at a younger age.”
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“For smokers, this shows how crucial it is to quit smoking as young as possible. There is a benefit at any age, but the younger smokers can quit, the more of their life they get back,” added Prof. West. “The way out of smoking is clear: try to quit at least once a year and use evidence-based specialist smoking cessation support with each quit attempt, rather than trying to go cold turkey.”
Malcolm Clarksenior prevention policy manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “Smoking remains the leading cause of cancer, causing around 150 cases every day in the UK – and the majority of people who smoke have tried to quit.
“It’s never too late to quit smoking, but people need support to quit. That’s why we support the UK government’s increased funding for smoking cessation services and forthcoming legislation to change the age at which tobacco is sold. If implemented, this could help ensure that the next generation never becomes addicted to tobacco.”