Changes in your body after quitting smoking. Reduced risk of cancer.

New research has revealed the changes in the body after quitting smoking.  According to this, people who quit smoking for a long time have half the risk of developing lung cancer compared to people who continue to smoke.  And research has shown that quitting smoking for 15 years reduces the overall cancer risk by 50%.  Additionally, results showed that quitting smoking before the age of 50 significantly reduces the risk of cancer.  Let’s take a look at what it is about.

Changes in your body after quitting smoking. Reduced risk of cancer

References

• Korea's Kookmin Ilbo, March 12, 2024
• March 12, 2024 Korea’s Health Chosun
• February 15, 2024 Korea's Yonhap News
• February 13, 2024 Hidoc in Korea

 

Introduction to research on changes in the body after quitting smoking

• Research in Korean hospitals (Cancer Management Department, National Cancer Center)
• Cohort (same group) study of 2,974,820 people aged 30 or older (1,727,340 men, average age 43.1 years, 1,247,480 women, average age 48.5 years)
• Smoking status observed every two years after health checkup in 2002-2003
• Divide into 5 groups based on smoking status and follow-up until 2019 (continuous smokers, resmokers, temporary quitters, complete quitters, non-smokers)

Research results on changes in the body after quitting smoking

• People who quit smoking have a significantly reduced risk of cancer compared to people who continue to smoke.
• Completely quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing overall cancer (17%), lung cancer (42%), liver cancer (27%), stomach cancer (14%), and colon cancer (20%) compared to continuous smokers.  The greatest reduction in lung cancer risk.

A significant reduction in cancer risk was observed regardless of when people quit smoking.  However, the risk also differed depending on the age of smoking cessation.

• People who quit smoking after age 50 have a reduced risk of all cancers (16%), lung cancer (40%), and liver/stomach cancer (12%) compared to continuous smokers.
• People who quit smoking before age 50 have a greater reduction in risk for all cancers (19%), lung cancer (57%), and liver/stomach cancer (18%) compared to continuing smokers.
• Quitting smoking even at a late age significantly reduces the risk of cancer.
• In the case of lung cancer, prevention is more effective if you quit smoking before middle age.

It was especially effective in preventing lung cancer.  This is probably because smoking directly affects the respiratory system, including the lungs.

In this post, we looked at research on changes in the body after quitting smoking.  That's an interesting result.  If you smoke, please refer to the research results, quit smoking, and take good care of your health.