Lung Cancer and Smoking Effects

Lung Cancer

• Lung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell division in lung tissue.
• Cells divide uncontrollably, forming tumors.
• Tumors may spread beyond the lungs.
• Common symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing (possibly blood), and weight loss.
• Key causes include carcinogens in cigarette smoke, ionizing radiation, and viral infections.
• Smoking is the leading cause.
• Risk is lower in non-smokers.

Smoking and Lung Cancer

• Cigarette smoke contains over 50 carcinogens.
• Passive smoking (inhaling smoke from others) also causes lung cancer.
• Smoke from the burning end of a cigarette is more dangerous than the filter end.
• Eliminating tobacco smoking is key to prevention. WHO encourages governments to stop tobacco advertising to prevent youth from taking up smoking.

Smoking Health Effects

• Smoking is harmful due to chemicals in cigarettes (over 4000 chemicals, at least 50 carcinogens).
• Nicotine, a powerful poison, damages arteries and brain tissue (historically used as insecticide).
• Smokers have a high risk of many serious diseases.
• Lung cancer is not the only smoking-related illness.
• Smoking affects the entire body.

Lung Cancer Statistics

• Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths (over 1.3 million annually worldwide).
• Rates of smoking have declined in developed countries, but rising in developing countries by 3.4% annually (as of a 2002 survey).

Lung Cancer Treatment

• If smokers quit, the chance of developing lung cancer decreases as lung damage is repaired.