The risk decreases significantly, however, after five years of not smoking. The majority of people who have a smoking-related cancer stop smoking or make serious efforts to quit after cancer is diagnosed. Those who do not immediately stop smoking may be motivated to quit in the future. It may take more than a year for even motivated smokers to stop smoking. It is common for first-time quitters to start smoking again one or more times before they quit for good.
Many programs are available to help smokers quit.
Genetic tests are blood tests that can show mistakes in the body's genes. Some mistakes may be linked to an increased risk of certain cancers. Some genetic mistakes are passed down through families. Before getting genetic testing, however, there are many things to consider. A negative result can give you peace of mind, while a positive result can help you make choices that may reduce your risk of getting cancer or help find cancer early.