Smoking is the number one risk factor for cancer. It is responsible for 30% of cancer deaths each year in France. However, a third of these deaths could be avoided without tobacco.
According to’National Cancer Institutetobacco is responsible for 68,000 new cases of cancer and 46,000 cancer deaths each year in Franceor almost 30% of cancer deaths.
Which cancers are favored by tobacco?
Smoking is the number one risk factor for cancer. He is directly responsible for lung cancer (8 out of 10 cases), of the cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus) at 70% and 35% of bladder cancer (Incas). “Without tobacco, lung cancer would be a rare cancer. Around 80% of lung cancer cases are due to tobacco. Smoking also increases the risk of developing cancer of the liver, pancreas, stomach, kidney, colon, rectum, breast, cervix, as well as some leukemias“, says Dr Gianluca Severi, Director of Research at Inserm and head of an epidemiology team at Gustave Roussy.
Why does tobacco increase the risk of cancer?
“Tobacco is made up of thousands of chemicals including arsenic, tars (which contain substances such as hydrocarbons), toxic gases (nitrogen oxide, hydrocyanic acid, carbon monoxide) and heavy metals (chromium, cadmium, lead, mercury) which have very varied and very deep actions on our body. Several of these substances possess carcinogenic effectsand participate in modifying DNA. The risk of developing cancer depends on the amount of cigarettes smoked, as well as the length of time you smoked“, explains the researcher. These two concepts are important. The number of cigarettes consumed per day is no more dangerous than the duration of smokingrecalls the Inca in 2023. Prolonged exposure to carcinogens is significantly more toxic.
What percentage of smokers have cancer in France?
“It’s very difficult to reason like that, nuance the specialist. A recent study on the incidence of cancer in France shows that 28% of cancer cases in adult men are due to tobacco and 8% in women. The prevalence of smoking remains high with almost a third of French adults who say they smoke. The percentage of women who smoke daily is lower compared to men (22% versus 29%)”.
Passive smoking is responsible for 1,100 deaths each year in France
Does passive smoking increase the risk of cancer?
Unwanted exposure to cigarette smoke has adverse health effects. “The effect of passive smoking is not as strong as that of individual smoking but it is clearly established, especially for lung cancer. Recent studies show a increased risk in non-smokers who live in a relationship with a person who smokes“, details our interlocutor. According to the Inca, passive smoking is responsible for 1,100 deaths each year in Franceincluding 150 by lung cancer.
Do you have to stop smoking when you have cancer?
“It’s never too late to quit smoking, even if the cancer has already developed. Quitting will always be beneficial. Several studies have shown that the risk of developing cancer from smoking decreases after quitting smoking and it becomes equal to that of a non-smoker again after about 20 years depending on the type of cancer“, informs Dr. Gianluca Severi.
Thanks to Dr Gianluca Severi, Director of Research at Inserm and head of an epidemiology team at Gustave Roussy.
Sources:
Attitudes and behavior of the French towards cancer: 4th Cancer Barometer, INCA. 01/30/2023
Tobacco, the first avoidable risk factor for cancer, 02/09/2022, National Cancer Institute