I smoked on a off for years...not, when I was pregnant and had small kids...on when I went back to work (at that time, everyone in the office smoked at their desks...stone ages)..
But I quit for good, about 12 years ago....I sure hope I quit soon enough..this is kinda scary, about Peter getting such a deadly case of cancer after having quit of a while, and only starting up for a couple of years...
Quitting is easy, but starting up again is A LOT easier! Gosh don't I know it!
(Remember, there was all the gloom-and-doom about Y2K.)
I told my honey at the time, "He is anchoring this like Fred Astaire."
My prayers for his family.
As far as lung cancer and heart disease, five years is the watershed year when the risks fall back to the population norms.
As for emphysema, any lung damage is permanent, and at a certain point it can become progressive (like dominos toppling) despite quitting. So for the risk of progressive emphysema, I do pray you quit in time.