Early detection of lung cancer is key in the survival of lung cancer patients. However, there is another important piece of the puzzle that cannot be overlooked - the prevention of lung cancer. Quitting smoking is the most important health choice you can make to reduce your risks of lung cancer and heart disease. Each smoke-free year after you have decided to quit reduces your risk of lung cancer, as normal cells replace abnormal cells. Here is the progression of what occurs in your body when you quit smoking.
- Within 20 minutes: Blood pressure and pulse drop to normal rates.
- After 8 hours: Carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal and the oxygen level in the blood increase to normal.
- After 24 hours: The chance of a heart attack decreases.
- After 48 hours: Nerve endings start to regrow and the ability to smell and taste is enhanced.
- After 72 hours: The bronchial tubes relax, making breathing easier.
- After 2 weeks to 3 months: Circulation improves, lung function increases and walking becomes easier.
- After 1 to 9 months: Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease. Cilia in the lungs begin to regrow, increasing the ability for the body to handle mucus, clean the lungs and reduce infection.
- After 10 years: New cells replace precancerous cells. Lung cancer death rates drop to nearly those of nonsmokers. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decreases.
How Do I Quit?
The Thoracic Oncology Program wants to help you in your efforts to quit smoking. We have partnered with Santiago Canyon College to provide quit smoking classes to the community free of charge. The classes provide nicotine replacement therapy and behavioral therapy to help give you all the tools you need to quit smoking for good. Help is available. Please call (800) 441-0110 to register.