One out of every three cancer deaths in the U.S. is related to cigarette smoking. Smoking causes 12 types of cancer, including cancers of the lung, larynx, oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, stomach, liver, colon and rectum, kidney and renal pelvis, cervix, and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Additionally, secondhand smoke exposure causes lung cancer.
Research shows that, in both patients with cancer and cancer survivors, smoking:
- Increases the risk of death, including death from cancer.
- Increases the risk for development of additional primary cancers which are smoking-related.
- May increase risk of cancer recurrence.
- May result in poorer treatment response and increased treatment-related toxicity.