Smoking has been found to cause 11 other kinds of cancers — not just in the lungs
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Of course, risk for lung cancer increases with cigarette smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smokers are 15-30 times more likely to have lung cancer or die from lung cancer compared with those who don’t smoke.
But smoking affects many more areas of the body and contributes to many other health problems.
“Besides lung cancer, tobacco use has been found to cause 11 other kinds of cancers, including five of the most fatal types,” said Camryn Chaffee, public health educator for Onondaga County Health Department. “Poisons found in tobacco can damage or alter a cell’s DNA, which can cause the cell to grow out of control and cause a cancerous tumor. Thirty percent of all cancer deaths in the United States are attributed to tobacco use.”
She added that smokers are two to 10 times more likely to develop any of these types of cancers: mouth and throat, kidney, bladder, larynx, blood, colon/rectum, esophagus, liver, pancreas, stomach and cervix.
According to the World Health Organization, Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, lower limb amputation, kidney disease and serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
“Smoking can change how your body processes and regulates sugar,” Chaffee said. “Because of this, smokers have a 30% – 40% higher chance of developing diabetes than non smokers. Smoking cigarettes makes managing diabetes more difficult. Nicotine can make it harder for the cells in the body to use insulin, which increases blood sugar levels.”
The damage doesn’t stop there. Chaffee said that smoking raises the risk of vascular problems.
“The toxins found in cigarettes cause inflammation and stress to cells,” she said. “This can lead to an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, osteoporosis and ALS.
“Menopause can begin up to nine years earlier in women who smoke due to the tobacco toxins causing a reduction in circulating estrogen in the body. The symptoms of menopause can also be more severe.”
Kristen Richardson, registered nurse and director of CNY Regional Center for Tobacco Health Systems.
In addition to a variety of cancers, and lung and vascular diseases, Kristen Richardson, registered nurse and director of St. Joseph’s affiliated CNY Regional Center for Tobacco Health Systems, noted that smoking “causes reduced overall health, increased rates of missed work school time and increased health care utilization and cost.”
The damage doesn’t stop there. Since tobacco products interfere with normal gum tissue cells, Richardson said that smokers are more susceptible to periodontal disease as smoking “seems to impair blood flow to the gums, which may affect wound healing. Tobacco use, including vaping, is one of the biggest risk factors for gum disease, which over time can lead to tooth loss and is itself a risk factor for heart disease.”
In addition, tobacco use can lead to bad breath, tooth discoloration, decreased taste, increased buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth and tooth decay, increased loss of bone within the jaw, increased risk of leukoplakia — white patches inside the mouth. It can also cause increased risk of developing gum disease, a leading cause of tooth loss; delayed healing process following tooth extraction, periodontal treatment or oral surgery; lower success rate of dental implant procedures; and increased risk of developing oral cancer.
Moms need to take smoking seriously, as “smoking also increases risks for pregnant women, such as pre-term or early delivery, stillbirth, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), ectopic pregnancy and orofacial clefts in infants,” said Kelly Jordal, senior public information officer with Oswego County.
But smoking harms anyone’s health, with “diminished overall health, increased absenteeism from work and greater health care utilization and cost,” Jordal added. “This makes quitting the most important thing people can do to improve their health — regardless of their age, how much they smoke or how long they have been smoking.”
Smokers or vapers should reach out to their primary care providers or access the New York State Quitline: www.nysmokefree.com with a chat feature. Or call 1-866-nyquits or text Text QUITNOW to 333888.
Quittin’ time
Kristen Richardson, registered nurse and director of CNY Regional Center for Tobacco Health Systems, offered a few sobering statistics:
• “Tobacco use kills 50% of its users.
• “8 million people, or 15% of all deaths globally, are attributable to tobacco use.
• “Secondhand smoke kills 1.3 million people each year worldwide.
• “Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined, with thousands more dying from spit chew tobacco use.
• “Smoking causes about 90% (or nine out of 10) of all lung cancer deaths. More women die from lung cancer each year than from breast cancer.
• “Smoking causes about 80% (or eight out of 10) of all deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• “Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. Smoking kills 28,000 New Yorkers annually.
• “More than 750,000 adult New Yorkers live with smoking related illnesses. Smokers, on average, live 10 years less than non smokers.”