CONTENT

1.2 Cigarette Smoking and Lung Cancer
1.2.1 What is a Smoking ‘Pack Year’
1.2.2 Advice for Patients Who Smoke
1.3 Lung Carcinogens

It is now proven, without doubt, that smoking is the leading cause of statistics.

Forward to 1C Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer.   Back to 1A Lung Cancer Incidence.

1.2 Cigarette Smoking and Lung Cancer

 
Since the 1950s, following the work of epidemiologists like Richard Doll, most cases of lung cancer (85-90%)   have been known to be caused by smoking. In non-smokers, a proportion of cases of lung cancer are caused by secondary smoke inhalation.

There has been a reduction in smoking in men in the U.S. This has resulted in a reduction in lung cancer rates and  lung cancer deaths in men. Smoking in adults and teenagers in the U.S. remains high. It is estimated that 20% of the U.S. population now smoke. Of particular concern is that smoking is increasing worldwide, particularly in developing countries.

Talking of smoking, the sex was so good last night, even the neighbours had a cigarette!

Figure 1.5 Comparison of Cancer Deaths, Including
from Lung Cancer, in Men and Women in the US.

Courtesy of the American Cancer Society
Cancer Facts & Figures 2010.

Figure 1.6 Tobacco Use and Lung Cancer Deaths
in Men and Women in the US.

Courtesy of the American Cancer Society
Cancer Facts & Figures 2010.

A high percentage of lung cancer still occurs in former smokers. The risk of lung cancer does not decline until many years after a person stops smoking.

There are a number of potential carcinogens in cigarette smoke and it is likely that these act in combination to transform the normal epithelial cells that line the airways of the lung in to cancer cells:

1.2.1 What is a Smoking ‘Pack Year’?

 
When talking  about a smoker’s risk factor for lung cancer, physicians will often refer to an individual’s ‘pack year.’   A pack year is defined as twenty cigarettes that are smoked every day for one year. People who smoke may vary their smoking habits over the years and it can be difficult to create a ‘pack score.’

To work out your own  pack year or to see how it works click the pack-year calculator.

I think that, ‘smoking causes erectile dysfunction’ would be more effective than ‘smoking kills’.

1.2.2 Advice for Patients Who Smoke

 
Physicians are advised to counsel their patients and to give them help and advice to give up smoking. The use of nicotine patches, nicotine gum and more recently, e-cigarettes, may be of help.

Some studies have shown that younger smokers are not persuaded by health information but may be more likely to stop smoking if given ‘social’ reasons. Smoking is anti-social and is illegal in many public places.  In addition smoking causes premature wrinkles and bad breath! Finally, think of your wallet!  The amount of money spent on cigarettes during a person’s lifetime can be several hundred thousands of dollars.

In an attempt to stop teenagers and children starting smoking, there have been attempts to use plain cigarette packaging.

So, one of the best ways to reduce teenage smoking is to appeal to their vanity.

Yes, that’s right tell them all about the horrible clothes and hair smell, the yellow teeth and lower energy for fun things like sports and….well, you know.

Stress the expense. Most teenagers like clothes, computers, and mobile phones. Calculate what they could have in a year compared to smoking.

The cost of smoking-related disease to health care systems (due to cancers, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, heart attacks, strokes) means that funding for nurses, doctors and other health resources and treatments are directed away from prevention and treatment of other patients and other medical conditions.

1.3 Lung Carcinogens

 
It would be of help to smokers to know about all the other toxic and carcinogenic substances that cigarette smoke contains. These include cyanide, formaldehyde and arsenic.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have produced a series of monographs that contain details of the carcinogens found in cigarette smoke.

What do you do with a dog that doesn’t have any legs? You take him for a drag.

References:

 
Doll, R., Hill, A. B. (1950). Smoking and Carcinoma of the Lung. British Medical Journal, 2(4682), 739–748. (Retrieved 22^nd Jan 2015): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2038856/

Tong L, Spitz MR, Fueger JJ, Amos CA. (1996). Lung carcinoma in former smokers. Cancer 78(5), 1004–10. (Retrieved 22^nd Jan 2015): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/878053

More references for this section are on this page.

PATIENT INFORMATION:

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Tobacco, smoking and cancer: the evidence (Retrieved 30^th March 2015): http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/healthyliving/smoking-and-cancer/stats-evidence/tobacco-smoking-and-cancer-the-evidence

Smoking Pack Years Calculator (Retrieved 30^th March 2015):http://smokingpackyears.com/
 

More patient information for this section is on this page.

Forward to 1C Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer.   Back to 1A Lung Cancer Incidence.