Harmful Effects of Smoking: Cancer

When you think about the harmful effects of smoking you probably either think of cancer or heart disease…And you would be right!

Let’s take a look at cancer.

Cancer is our nation’s second leading cause of death. Lung cancer accounts for the majority of cancer deaths. By far most cases of lung cancer death are caused by smoking cigarettes. 90% of men who die from lung cancer were smokers. 80% of women!

In addition to lung cancer, other types of cancer that are caused by smoking are cancers of the oral cavity (mouth), pharynx, larynx, esophagus, bladder, stomach, cervix, kidney and pancreas. Acute myeloid leukemia, a type of cancer, is caused by smoking, also.

What actually causes these cancers?

Well, part of the answer lies in the over 40 known carcinogens that occur in cigarette smoke.

The way these chemicals cause cancer is by damaging genes that control the growth of cells, thus causing abnormal growth.

Is this all bad news?

Yes,…and no.

For cancers caused by smoking your risk increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke per day and how many years you have smoked. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that after you quit, your chances of getting these cancers decreases. The longer you stay quit, the less your chances of disease. Eventually, if you stay quit long enough, your chances of getting cancer will decrease to, or near, the same level as a non-smoker.

So, take heart! No matter how much you smoke or how long you have smoked, quitting will increase your health and quite possibly your life span. Not only can years be added to your life, but quality of life as well.

My own mother (who smoked her whole life) spent her last few years battling several forms of cancer. She had a number of operations and as a result had a lower quality of life during her last years. (Not to mention less life--she died at 56.)

Don’t think you might as well continue smoking because you’ve already done the damage. That’s your addiction talking, not you!

Stop now and let your health return.

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