By now, we all know that smoking can lead to lung cancer. But still, the statistics can be shocking.
CNNHealth contributing expert Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society, recently provided the following facts:
• There are some estimates that lifetime risk of lung cancer in a very heavy smoker is about 30% overall. This translates into about a third of very heavy smokers developing lung cancer.
• The risk of lung cancer does increase with both the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the number of years a person has smoked. A 35-year-old male who smokes fewer than 25 cigarettes per day is estimated to have a 9% lifetime chance of dying of lung cancer, whereas 25 cigarettes per day or more gives him an 18% lifetime chance of dying of lung cancer.
• People who start smoking at younger ages are at higher risk later in life.
Thinking of quitting smoking? Nicotine gum, nicotine patches, counseling through telephone or internet support groups can all be very help, according to Dr. Brawley. But did you know that you can also quit smoking in much the same way that many people quick drinking, by attending a 12-step program? Many people may not be aware that, just as people with alcohol addictions can attend AA, people who are addicted to nicotine can seek help through a similar group known as Nicotine Anonymous. You can visit their web site to learn more about the program, and find a meeting near you: http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/
Also, even as we highlight the dangerous association between smoking and lung cancer, it is important to also remember that, according to Dr. Brawley, 15 to 20 of every 100 patients who have lung cancer are lifelong nonsmokers. Some get it because of secondhand smoke and some get it for unknown reasons.
Source: http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/20/how-quickly-does-lung-cancer-develop-for-smokers/
