Quitting Smoking in Your 60s? Research Shows It's Worth It

Smoking causes about 1 in 5 cancer diagnoses and 1 in 3 cancer deaths in the United States. But new research brings some good news. Even if you quit smoking later in life, it can still help you live longer.

The study found that older people who quit smoking could gain at least 1 extra year of life. People who quit at age 65 have about a 1 in 4 chance of gaining another year of life. And people who quit at age 75 have a more than 1 in 10 chance. The study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

However, the study also found that continuing to smoke can take several years off your life. One key finding was that if people age 65 continue smoking, they can expect to lose an average of about 6 years of life compared to people who never smoked.

“This study shows how big of an impact quitting smoking can have on increasing life expectancy, even for people who are older. Quitting smoking can be the difference between giving you another year of life or more with your loved ones,” said Allison Magnuson, DO, an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) expert and geriatric oncologist at the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute.

Health benefits of quitting smoking

Smoking increases your risk of developing and dying from several different cancers. In fact, smoking causes about 85% of lung cancer cases. Smoking can also increase your risk of bladder cancer, head and neck cancer, and kidney cancer, among others. The longer and more often you smoke, the higher your cancer risk becomes.

Smoking can also cause other health issues. It can increase the risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. It can also increase the risk of lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung infections, such as pneumonia.

However, if you stop smoking, you’ll start to see health benefits right away. For example, within 20 minutes of stopping, your heart rate and blood pressure will drop. A year or 2 after quitting, your risk of heart attack will decrease substantially. Between 5 to 10 years after quitting, your risk of certain cancers can be cut in half.

How to quit smoking after age 65

Nicotine is a chemical in tobacco that is highly addictive. It’s also the chemical that makes cigarettes hard to quit. For people over age 65 who smoke, or those who have smoked most of their lives, quitting can be especially difficult. It can be challenging to overcome the mental hurdles of quitting a long-time habit like smoking. If this describes you, think about working with a tobacco treatment specialist. These specialists are trained in smoking cessation. You can ask your doctor for a referral to a specialist or to a mental health professional.

Many people also benefit from using medications to stop smoking. There are several over-the-counter options for nicotine replacement therapy. There are also prescription medications that might be an option. Your doctor can help you decide if medication is a good choice for you and what the right medication might be.

“While it can be difficult for older people to quit smoking, this study proves the effort is worth it,” said Dr. Magnuson. “If you are struggling to quit smoking, remember there are resources available to help, including your health care team.”

If you want to quit smoking, visit How to Quit Using Tobacco and talk with your doctor. Here are some questions to ask:

1. How will quitting smoking impact my risk of cancer and other health conditions?
2. Will quitting smoking positively impact any other health conditions I have?
3. What method for quitting would you recommend for me?
4. Can you refer me to a tobacco treatment specialist or a mental health professional?

Learn more about quitting smoking from the American Cancer Society:

• Reasons to Quit Smoking
• Empowered to Quit (Tobacco Cessation Program)
• Staying Tobacco-free After You Quit

Dr. Magnuson is an Associate Editor on ASCO’s Patient Information Editorial Board.