Quitting smoking reduces cancer risk at any age

Stopping smoking reduces the risk of cancer in older and younger patients, according to a study that found the most substantial drop in cancer risk came after the first decade of quitting.

The chances of developing cancer substantially declined in people who quit for at least 15 years, compared with those who continued to smoke, with the risk from lung cancer decreasing sharply, particularly for those who quit before middle age. 

Researchers looked at data from nearly 3 million people who had health exams from 2002 onwards and recorded cases of cancer, including lung, liver, stomach and colorectal tumors, until 2019. Over the course of the study, nearly 200,000 participants received a cancer diagnosis.

Read more: JAMA Network

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