What are the odds a former smoker will get lung cancer?

What are the odds a former smoker will get lung cancer?

Jay M. Lee (Surgical Director, Thoracic Oncology Program, UCLA) gives expert video advice on: Does the age I started smoking affect the odds I will develop lung cancer?; Does the amount I smoke affect your odds of developing lung cancer?; Why do people who never smoke develop lung cancer? and more...

The risk of lung cancer declines with smoking cessation. Even with less than ten years of smoking cessation, that risk is reduced by a third. However, that risk of developing lung cancer persists even as far out as thirty years of smoking cessation. This data is a little controversial, and other reports suggest that there is great impact with smoking cessation at shorter durations, but other studies such as this one that I quoted still show a persistent risk for lung cancer long-term.