Quitting Smoking Can Delay Lung Cancer Onset and Reduce Mortality Risk: BMC

A recent study highlighted the positive impact of smoking cessation on delaying lung cancer (LC) onset and reducing both all-cause and LC-specific mortality. The findings published in the BMC Cancer journal emphasize that quitting smoking can offer substantial health benefits for those at risk of LC even later in life.

The research utilized data from 2,671 smokers diagnosed with LC from the UK Biobank and evaluated the effects of smoking cessation on the age at onset (AAO) of LC and mortality outcomes. The participants were divided into a discovery set (1,872 individuals) and a validation set (799 individuals). Advanced statistical models analyzed how cessation timing and duration influenced health outcomes.

The study revealed that individuals over 60 years old who quit smoking experienced a delay in the onset of LC. The men showed a prolonged AAO by an average of 1.61 years, while women experienced a delay of 1.53 years. These findings underline the potential for smoking cessation to reduce the risk of early LC diagnosis, even for older adults.

A significant correlation was observed between the duration of smoking cessation and its benefits. Men who had quit smoking for more than 15 years were found to have a notably later AAO of LC by highlighting the enduring impact of long-term smoking abstinence.

The study also examined the relationship between smoking cessation and mortality. For individuals who stopped smoking before the age of 60, particularly those under 40, the reduction in mortality risk was substantial. Men in this group showed a 35% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 33% lower risk of LC-specific mortality. Also, women who quit smoking before 40 had a 38% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 32% lower risk of LC-specific mortality.

Even among individuals who had quit smoking for over 15 years, significant reductions in mortality risks were observed. Former male smokers demonstrated a 30% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 29% lower risk of LC-specific mortality. Women in the same category expressed a 32% reduction in all-cause mortality and a 31% decrease in LC-specific mortality.

Overall, this study reinforced the importance of integrating smoking cessation programs into LC screening initiatives. While the benefits of quitting smoking are most pronounced for individuals who stop at younger ages, the findings emphasized that it is never too late to quit. For those over 60, cessation can still contribute to delayed LC onset and reduced mortality risks.

Reference: 

Yin, W., Lin, Z., Gong, W.-J., Wang, W.-X., Zhu, Y.-Y., Fu, Y.-L., Yang, H., Zhang, J.-X., Lin, P., & Li, J.-B. (2025). Smoking cessation is a protective factor for lung cancer onset and mortality: a population-based prospective cohort study. BMC Cancer, 25(1), 86. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13475-8