15 years - too late? - Smoking Cessation Message Board

HumanChimney · 08-17-2003, 07:37 AM

Hello, Im new here.

I have been a smoker since I was 17. I am 32 years old now - so I've been going at it for 15 years.

I know I am doomed to lung cancer. What I was wondering is this - is there a length of smoking time in years doctors go by where they will just tell you to keep smoking because its too late? I would like to at least try to improve my cardiovascular health with the few remaining years I have left before my lungs turn cancerous.

If anybody knows such a benchmark in a smoker's history Id appreciate it. I figure it would be around 10 years and I have already passed it, but Im not sure. Thanks!

The Human Chimney

luke1 · 08-17-2003, 10:02 PM

The answer is NO, it‘s never too late. Even seniors can benefit from stopping smoking. You seem concerned about lung cancer, but there are more health problems than just cancer. Everyone who smokes or who has smoked will develop Emphysema to one degree or another. Chronic Bronchitis is another one. It’s almost a sure bet that people who continue to smoke will end up with Heart Disease.
You can greatly improve your health and extend your life span if you quit smoking. I recommend you start planning your quit date and come up with a plan you think you can stick with. There are a lot of aides available, nicotine patches, gum, medications like Zyban, and others. There is information on the web and plenty of books to help you. You also have the support from all of us here at the HealthBoard.
I am an EX-smoker and I do know how hard it is to quit, but I also know that it can be done. I stopped five years and besides all the health benefits I feel great. To date I have saved $15,000 by stopping smoking.
Good luck!

HumanChimney · 08-17-2003, 10:51 PM

Thank you for the reply.

I know there are other health concerns related to smoking. I didn't know though that every smoker will develop Emphysema. Do you know the average in years how long? Ive been smoking for 15 years. Does Emphysema set in before the Lung Cancer does?

All of this is greatly discouraging. It seems a bit pointless to quit. Middle-age life with Emphysema and Lung Cancer doesn't seem all that attractive.

But perhaps if I can salvage a few years by quitting and avoiding a heart attack, then I guess its worth it, right?

Anyone know the average age (or in terms of smoking years) when you come down with the Emphysema? I'd like to know how much longer I have until things get ugly.

Thanks again.

GeorgiaPeech · 08-18-2003, 08:05 AM

NO IT IS NEVER TOO LATE to reap benefits of stopping smoking. Sure, the longer you smoke, the more likely you are to get the diseases that smoking causes. Lung cancer, for example, is directly dose-related. Doctors figure it in "pack years", e.g. 2 packs a day for 10 years is 20 "pack years", 1 pack a day for 30 years is 30 pack years, etc.

And, remember, everyone who smoked doesn't necessarily get lung cancer. But those who never smoked rarely get it. And those who stopped smoking greatly reduce their likelihood of developing it. And those who smoked and continue to smoke are at greatly increased risk of developing it. Lung cancer is more efficient in some ways than emphysema. Lung cancer kills you rather quickly; emphysema makes you wish you were dead.

Also please note that the risk of developing other smoking-related diseases such as heart disease goes down almost immediately when you quit smoking. So there are immediate benefits that start within minutes after quitting, and it just gets better and better, the longer you refrain from smoking.

Best of luck with your quit.

tilly2 · 08-18-2003, 01:59 PM

How on earth can lung cancer be directly dose related? That would not explain how someone can smoke for 50 years and not get it, but some who smoke for 10 will. It also takes away any motivation for quitting for someone who is within the 'pack year' danger zone.

I think it's really dangerous to put forward that kind of information. It is hard enough to quit smoking thinking you are doomed. Human Chimney, there are many people who have quit smoking much later in life than you that did NOT develop lung cancer or emphysema. Please don't listen to anyone or anything that says it is inevitable. But if you don't stop soon your chances will definetly go up. And you know what, it's really not that bad. Give it a try.