Ex-smokers And Lung Disease

If you're anthing like my mother, you're at risk. She quit smoking 20 years ago and is now on a respirator suffering from both emphysema and lung cancer, both of which are proven to be much more prevalent in smokers than non-smokers. My father also quit smoking 20 years ago and was recently diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease also attributed to smoking and also fatal. I hated their smoking as a kid, and I hate it more now.

My dad smoked for about 20 years as well (quit when he had children), and in October of 2002 he was diagnosed, and died in December 2002 from lung cancer. However, my great aunt is pushing 90 years old and still chain smoking. It's an awful thought, but unfortunately you are still at risk.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men (after prostate cancer) and women (after breast cancer). It accounts for about 15% of all new cancers and mainly occurs in the elderly. About 2 out of 3 people diagnosed with lung cancer are older than 65; fewer than 3% of all cases are found in people under the age of 45. The average age at the time of diagnosis is about 70.

Overall, the chance that a man will develop lung cancer in his lifetime is about 1 in 13; for a woman, the risk is about 1 in 16. These numbers include both smokers and non-smokers. For smokers the risk is much higher, while for non-smokers the risk is lower.


Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer. More people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.

Slightly more than 40% of people diagnosed with either type of lung cancer are still alive 1 year after their diagnosis. About 27% are still alive after 2 years. Only about 16% of people diagnosed with lung cancer survive this disease after 5 years.

Despite the very serious prognosis of lung cancer, some people are cured. More than 400,000 people alive today have been diagnosed with lung cancer at some point in time

What is the point in worrying? Unless you're thinking "to hell with it the damage is done so I may as well restart smoking' please don't do this. By giving up smoking you're greatly reducing your risks of all smoking related illness. There is research showing that permeant DNA changes that leave smokers at even greater risk after cessation take 25 years in a pack a day smoker. Remember some lifelong non smokers will get lung cancer. Good luck don't look back, don't lets the doomsday idiots put you off and never smoke again!