I read recently (can't remember where) that new evidence show that the pre-cancerous changes in the lungs which occur after years of heavy smoking NEVER go away.
This is a highly-charged issue. On one hand, it can be used to support the idea that smokers-get-lung-cancer. On the other, it could make younger smokers taking quitting more seriously. And on the other again, older long-term smokers may think "why bother"?
Indeed, if my mom had quit 10 years ago and still ended up with sclc, she'd be pretty darn ticked (to put it in printable language ).
It's a thorny issue all around. I've never smoked myself, but have seen first-hand the special he11 that smokers who want to quit go through.
As far as I'm concerned, anyone 10 lbs. or more over "ideal" weight (and I sure qualify) had NO business judging a smoker's habit.