How to Quit Smoking and Reduce Your Risk of Lung Cancer

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By now, most people know that smoking cigarettes and using tobacco products is bad for your health. But it can be challenging to quit. You may be thinking, “I’ve smoked for years; why stop now?”

There are numerous reasons why quitting smoking should be a priority.

Why Quit Smoking?

It is the single best choice you can make for your health. It improves your chances of living a long, higher-quality life free from chronic, debilitating and sometimes fatal conditions.

A typical cigarette contains more than 70 carcinogens. Carcinogens are chemicals that greatly increase your chances of developing many types of cancer, particularly lung cancer.

Smoking can also lead to a variety of other health problems, including heart disease, stroke, COPD, asthma and loss of bone density. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 16 million Americans currently live with a smoking-related disease.

The CDC estimates that:

12 hours after quitting smoking, the carbon monoxide level in your blood starts to drop
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting, your risk for heart attacks begins to drop, and lung function improves
Within 9 months of quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease
1 year after quitting, the added risk of coronary heart disease is half of that of a smoker
10 years after quitting, your risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a smoker, and your risk of getting cancer of the esophagus, bladder and kidney decreases
15 years after quitting, the risk of coronary heart disease is the same of a non-smoker
20 years after quitting, the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat and voicebox drops close to that of someone who does not smoke; the risk of pancreatic cancer drops close to that of someone who does not smoke; and the added risk of cervical cancer drops by about half

In 2021, only 11.5 percent of American adults smoked cigarettes. That number has been steadily decreasing. Smoking also isn’t as socially acceptable as it used to be. Most public places are now nonsmoking, so it’s harder to find a place to smoke (except for your home or car).

If you need any other reasons to quit, think of the money you’ll save! Your health and life insurance rates may even go down after you quit.

It’s time to quit smoking for good. Find out where to start and how to monitor your lungs for signs of cancer development.

How to Quit Smoking

Mark Twain once said, “Quitting smoking is easy. I’ve done it a thousand times.”

Why is it so hard to quit? Blame nicotine, the addictive substance in cigarettes that stimulates the “pleasure centers” of your brain. It may make you feel happy and relaxed, and over the years, your body comes to associate smoking with well-being. Unfortunately, nicotine is very addictive—and poisonous.

You know it’s unhealthy to keep smoking, so let’s learn how to quit one step at a time. You will be most successful if you use medications in combination with a class or counseling.

Medications That Can Help You

Many prescription medications can help you quit. Here are some of the most popular kinds:

Varenicline/Chantix: This pill was designed specifically for smoking cessation. A daily dose will greatly reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): NRT provides nicotine to the smoker without the thousands of other poisons that are in cigarette smoke. There are many nicotine substitutes such as a nicotine patch, gum and nasal spray. NRT should not be used as the only treatment for smoking cessation. Studies show that cessation programs or therapy coupled with NRT will double the chances of success rates for the smoker.
Zyban/Wellbutrin: These antidepressants reduce the effects of nicotine withdrawal. They can be used alone or paired with NRTs.

Smoking Cessation Classes

Studies have shown that the best smoking cessation programs include individual or group counseling. When thinking about entering a program, consider the following:

Session length: A session should be at least 20 to 30 minutes long to be effective.
Number of sessions: Attending at least four to seven sessions is best.
Number of weeks: Attending for at least a month is ideal.
Certified leaders: The leader of your group should be certified to teach a smoking cessation class or group.

Smoking Cessation Classes Near You

Get Screened for Lung Cancer

Can you guess the second-most common cancer in both men and women? Lung cancer.

More people die each year from lung cancer than from colon, breast and prostate cancer combined. Three-quarters of new lung cancer cases are late-stage cancers, which are far more difficult to treat than early-stage lung cancers.

Unfortunately, only 16% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage according to the American Lung Association. In fact, more than half the people with lung cancer die within one year of being diagnosed. It’s important to catch the disease in its early stages and increase the likelihood of successful treatment.

Lung Cancer Screening Programs

Lung Cancer Screening Programs are an important part of the University of Maryland Cancer Network’s multidisciplinary approach to cancer care and prevention. With convenient locations throughout the state, the UM Cancer Network is home to the region’s leading specialists who can help you catch lung cancer before it spreads.

Lung Cancer Screening provides expert evaluation for people who are at high risk for the disease. The screening consists of a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan, which captures images of your lungs. These images are then evaluated to determine if you have signs of tumor formation. If the scan shows any abnormalities, the patient is evaluated by lung cancer experts. The University of Maryland Medical System has found that the collaboration of multidisciplinary teams of experts help to maximize the chances of diagnosing and treating early stage lung cancer.

Who Should Get Screened

Tobacco smoke is the leading cause of lung cancer. If you are a smoker or have quit in the last 15 years, or you live, work or are regularly around someone who smokes, you may be at risk for developing lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is greatest for current and former smokers as they get older.

You should get screened for lung cancer if you:

Are age 50-80 years
Are asymptomatic (no signs or symptoms of lung cancer)
Have a tobacco smoking history of at least 20 pack-years (one pack-year = smoking one pack per day for one year; one pack = 20 cigarettes)
Are a current smoker or have quit in the last 15 years

How Do Lung Cancer Screenings Save Lives?

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in the United States in both men and women. Getting regular lung cancer screenings can help save lives. In this podcast, learn more about who needs to be screened, what a screening is like, what happens after you’ve been screened and much more from Tiffany Matonak MMS, PA-C, an expert in thoracic surgery and lung cancer at UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center, part of the UM Cancer Network. Listen here.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=XZJib3Jux38%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26fs%3D1%26hl%3Den-US%26autohide%3D2%26wmode%3Dtransparent

Get a Lung Screening

Lung screenings are available through UMMS at the following locations: