Contents:
- Medical Video: Updated Risks of Smoking & Cancer
- The risk of lung cancer dropped dramatically after quitting smoking
- However, that does not mean you are completely free
- What should be done to reduce the risk of lung cancer?
Medical Video: Updated Risks of Smoking & Cancer
Cigarettes are a major risk factor for lung cancer. Active smokers have a higher risk of developing this one deadly disease than passive smokers. Now the question is, are you still haunted by the risk of lung cancer even after quitting smoking?
The risk of lung cancer dropped dramatically after quitting smoking
After quitting smoking, there are many positive changes that will occur in the body. One of them is improving lung function. You will no longer feel pain when breathing deeply. In addition, when quitting smoking the risk of heart attack and stroke also decreases especially after two to three years. So what about lung cancer?
Quoted from OncoLink, after quitting smoking your risk for lung cancer and other diseases due to smoking will decrease and continue to decrease. It takes around 10 years without smoking to reduce the risk of lung cancer by 50 percent.
Especially after 15 years of quitting smoking, your risk of developing lung cancer is almost as low as people who have never smoked and do not breathe the smoke.
However, that does not mean you are completely free
But keep in mind, the risk of the parental caner does not disappear at all even though you have stopped smoking for a long time. Because the body has already been exposed to cigarettes for a long time so that the effects of cigarette poisons still develop in your body.
This was confirmed by research conducted on 600 people who were referred for lung cancer surgery. Of all patients, 77 percent were former smokers and only 11 percent still smoked. The results of the study concluded that patients diagnosed with lung cancer had on average stopped smoking for 18 years.
That way, stopping smoking only lowers the risk but does not necessarily make you free of the possibility of suffering from lung cancer.
What should be done to reduce the risk of lung cancer?
Smokers cannot escape the shadow of lung cancer. However, you can reduce the risk by screening. Quoted from Verywell Health, lung cancer screening can help reduce the death rate by 20 percent in the United States.
You need to do lung cancer screening, if:
- Already mbecome active smokers by spending two packs per day for 15 years.
- At the age of 55 to 80 years.
- Still smoking or having stopped in the last 10 years.
- Healthy enough to undergo surgery if abnormalities are found.
However, what if someone does not meet the criteria as mentioned? You still need to see a doctor and do lung cancer screening even if it does not meet the criteria mentioned. Especially for those of you who are at high risk of lung cancer such as having a family history of having cancer.
By screening, the doctor can detect the initial symptoms of lung cancer and immediately take action before the cancer cells spread. The various symptoms of lung cancer that you need to be aware of are:
- Cough that doesn't heal.
- Coughing up blood.
- Feel short of breath even while resting.
- Feeling pain in the chest.
- Weight loss without a clear reason.
- Hoarseness.
- Weak and weak body.
- Wheezing sounds (sounds like "ngik-ngik").
Whatever symptoms you feel, you should immediately consult a doctor to find out the cause. Never underestimate the negative signs your body gives you if you don't want to regret it later.
Also, change your lifestyle to be healthier by eating balanced nutritious food, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep every day.
