Smoking can cause cancer
While in the past the relation between smoking and cancer was not clear, research has proven that out of every four cancer deaths reported, one is as a result of smoking. For this reason, it is ideal to note that 80% of these cases involve women while 90% involve men and as such, it is ideal for smokers to quit smoking before becoming one of these statistics. Though smoking is known to cause various types of cancers, the most common one is lung cancer and this is what the percentages mentioned earlier are mostly attributed to. Other types of cancers include; cancer of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, pancreas, stomach, kidney, bladder, cervix, bowel and liver among others.
Learn the risks
By learning how smoking causes cancer, smokers are better placed to make informed decisions and decide whether it is worth risking their lives. For starters, it is important to note that cigarettes have at least over eighty harmful substances which are known to cause cancer. By inhaling the cigarette smoke, they go to your lungs and then spread throughout the entire body. For this reason, research has proved that these very same chemicals interfere with the DNA and as such change genes which in turn grow at a rapid rate. Once this gets out of control, then the cancerous cells are formed and they spread through your body at a rapid rate and thought here are ways through which it can be cured for instance by use of chemotherapy, most smokers do not realize they have cancer until it is too late.
Don’t believe your safe
Due to the fact that there are people who have smoked their entire lives and not gotten cancer, there are people who believe that it is not necessary to quit smoking. It is important to note that not all smokers get cancer but since you do not have a clue on whether you are among those who won’t, it is ideal to quit smoking. This is for the simple reason that your urge to continue doing so only increases your chances of getting the cancerous cells. To back this up, it is also important to note that half of all people who smoke eventually due to this illness and that in most cases, these people fall in the age gap of thirty five to sixty nine years.
Second hand smoke also causes cancer
On the other hand, it is also important to note that people who smoke place those who do not at a risk. This is due to the fact that second hand smoke is also dangerous as it contains over four thousand chemicals, fifty of which are known to cause cancer. For this reason, statistics show that about 3,000 people die from this per year a fact that is very disheartening. It is for this reason that it is advisable to quit smoking and safeguard not only your life, but that of loved ones. As mentioned earlier, people who are used to smoking are placed at a higher risk though by quitting, they lower this chance and as such, can lead a normal and healthy life.