Lung Cancer - Smoking Related Facts
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It is well documented that cigarette smoke is the major cause of lung cancer (primary carcinoma of the lung) and is a cause of chronic lung disease. As well as lung cancer, tobacco smoke contributes to cancer of the bladder, pancreas, and kidney.
It is actually the chemicals and compounds in tobacco smoke that make smoking so harmful. Read more about the harmful effects of smoking.
- Primary carcinoma of the lung is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women.
- It accounts for approximately 32% of cancer deaths in men and 25% in women.
- Current or former cigarette smokers make up approximately 90% of patients with lung cancer.
- Men who smoke one pack a day increase their risk 10 times compared with non-smokers.
- Men who smoke two packs a day increase their risk more than 25 times compared with non-smokers
- Of the 180,000 people diagnosed in the United States alone each year, 86% will die within 5 years of diagnosis.
What Is Lung Cancer?
There are two major types of lung cancer:
- Non-small cell
lung cancer - consists of 3 types:
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Ademocarcinoma and
- Large cell carcinoma
- Small cell
lung cancer also called oat cell cancer. It usually spreads to different parts of the body more quickly than non-small cell and accounts for about 20% of all lung cancer
Causes Of Lung Cancer
Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. The more you smoke and the longer you smoke, the greater your risk.
If you stop smoking however, the risk of lung cancer decreases. Year on year, abnormal cells are replaced by normal cells. After ten years, the risk drops to a level that is one-third to one-half of the risk for people who continue to smoke.
There are also many more benefits.
- Quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of developing other smoking-related diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Lung cancer normally takes many years to develop. Incidence tends to peaks between the ages of 55 and 65 years. The changes in the lung however can begin almost as soon as a person is exposed to carcinogenic chemicals.
Soon after exposure begins, a few abnormal cells may appear in the lining of the bronchi (the main breathing tubes). Gradually as you continue your exposure to these substances, more abnormal cells appear. Some will become cancerous and tumour forming. |
