My dad smoked until about 22 years ago. I just went with him to a polmonologist on Wednesday to hear the results of a CT scan. There is a gray area in his lung ( white is good, black is good, gray is not bone or air - not so good). It can be a lot of things (well 3 things - cancer, pneumonia, or asbestosis), but the fact he smoked 22 years ago increases the chances of it being cancer dramaticaly. Next up, a pet scan.
I smoked for about 30 years. Even though I quit, I suspect its only a matter of time before I'm having the same conversation with a polmonologist..
(BTW, this aint drama queen stuff. My dad is 74 and figures he aint ready to go, but he also believes if he was 94 he still wouldn't be ready to go. So well you just grin and bear it. Not much use griping about it)