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HomeTopicsTobacco And Cancer
Tobacco and CancerMost people know that the effects of tobacco can be damaging to your health and that you can get lung cancer from smoking. However, many people don't realize all of the other negative effects tobacco can have on the health. Tobacco causes approximately one out of every five deaths in the United States each year and is the number one preventable cause of death.
In addition to lung cancer, tobacco use puts you at risk of developing the following types of cancer:
This is by no means an all-inclusive list. Tobacco use puts people at risk for many other types of cancer and many other serious health conditions, such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Tobacco negatively affects virtually every organ and part of the body.
In this section, we'll cover all aspects of tobacco and cancer. We'll tell you which cancers tobacco use puts you at risk for, the effects of those cancers on the body, treatment options and more.
Bladder CancerThe single greatest risk factor for developing bladder cancer is smoking and other tobacco use. Most cases of bladder cancer occur in older adults, though younger people are also at risk if they are smokers.
Treatment for the disease is most effective in early stages. Pelvic pain and pain during urination are sometimes early symptoms of bladder cancer.
Lung CancerLung cancer is one of the most commonly known risks associated with tobacco use. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in the United States, in both men and women.
Approximately 90 percent of lung cancer cases in men are caused by smoking, and approximately 80 percent of lung cancer cases in women are caused by smoking. Quitting smoking can significantly decrease a person's chances for developing lung cancer.
Oral and Throat CancerThroat cancer from smoking is another inherent tobacco risk. Tobacco and alcohol use are among the leading causes of oral (mouth) and throat cancer, which kill approximately 7,000 people each year.
If caught in the early stages, the disease is treatable, but early diagnosis is difficult because most often people experience few to no symptoms in the early stages of throat cancer. Resources Mayo Clinic (2007). Bladder Cancer. Retrieved December 20, 2007, from the Mayo Clinic Web site: http://mayoclinic.com/health/bladder-cancer/DS00177/DSECTION=2. Mayo Clinic (2007). Oral and Throat Cancer. Retrieved December 20, 2007, from the Mayo Clinic Web site: http://mayoclinic.com/health/oral-and-throat-cancer/DS00349. National Cancer Institute (2007). Quitting Smoking. Retrieved December 20, 2007, from the NCI Web site: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cessation. |
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