For this reason, we strongly encourage smokers to quit. The risk of lung cancer begins decreasing slowly as soon as a person quits smoking . The earlier the age at which a person quits, the closer a former smoker's risk of lung cancer will approach the risk for a person who never smoked. Although quitting early is best, smokers should know that it is never too late to benefit from quitting-even if they have lung cancer. Lung cancer patients who stop smoking are less likely to get a second lung cancer than are patients who continue to smoke .
Many programs are available to help people stop smoking.
The Cancer Information Service, the American Cancer Society, and the American Lung Association can offer advice about quitting and can give you information about programs in your area. Information about these organization is found in the Resources section of this guide. Although smoking is by far the major cause of lung cancer, it is not the only cause. Scientists have found that nonsmokers who live or work with smokers have a higher lung cancer risk than nonsmokers who do not face this type of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.