Don't smoke
Smoking drives earlier pancreatic cancer in BRCA2 carriers and raises prostate cancer risk too.[1]Cigarette smoking drives earlier pancreatic cancer among hereditary pancreatic cancer susceptibility gene carriers Quit for about 10 years and your pancreatic cancer risk looks close to a non-smoker's again. Here's what actually moves the odds of quitting for good.
Nicotine replacement almost doubles your odds
Without any aid, about 11 in 100 people who try to quit succeed. With nicotine replacement therapy, gum, patch, lozenge, or spray, that jumps to about 17 in 100.[2]Cochrane review: nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation It's available over the counter. There's no real reason to try quitting cold before trying it with help.
Combine it with real support
Pairing a nicotine aid with counseling or a structured quit program roughly doubles the 6-month success rate again, about 15 percent versus 9 percent for advice alone.[3]Combined pharmacotherapy + behavioral intervention quit rates The free national quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW) connects you to exactly that kind of support, no cost, no insurance needed.
Set an actual date, not a vague plan
"I'm cutting back" rarely turns into quitting. Picking a specific date, telling someone about it, and clearing out cigarettes, lighters, and ashtrays before that day gives you a real line to cross instead of an open-ended intention.
Let the 10-year number be the motivation
This isn't abstract: BRCA2 carriers who quit smoking for roughly a decade see their pancreatic cancer risk converge back toward a non-smoker's.[1]Cigarette smoking drives earlier pancreatic cancer among hereditary pancreatic cancer susceptibility gene carriers Every year past your quit date is a year that number keeps improving.
smokefree.gov and 1-800-QUIT-NOW are both free, US-based quit resources.
This page is general information, not medical advice.