An Overview of Cigarette Smoking and Cancer
Tobacco use, particularly cigarette smoking, is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking alone is directly responsible for approximately 30 percent of all cancer deaths annually in the United States.
Quitting smoking greatly reduces a person's risk of developing these diseases, and can limit adverse health effects on the developing child.
Cancer Rates Linked to Cigarette Smoking
87 percent of
lung cancer deaths are caused by cigarette smoking. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women.
Smoking is also responsible for most cancers of the larynx, oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus, and bladder. In addition, it is a cause of kidney, pancreatic, cervical, and
stomach cancers, as well as acute myeloid
leukemia.