Smoking is a leading cause of cancer in the world, causing millions of deaths every year, and the Toxic chemicals they have in cigarettes can damage DNA and reduce the body's defenses. This creates conditions for cancer to develop.
Cigarette smoke is a combination of hard and toxic chemicals, DNA damage, and chronic inflammation, which diverts and stops the body from healing and its healing process.
It contains over 7000 different chemicals, and at least 70 of them are known to cause cancer. The damage of smoking extends far beyond the lungs.
In this blog, we have covered all you need to know about smoke, including how it can cause cancer, its problems, the benefits of quitting, and more.
Toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke
Cigarette smoke, including more than 7,000 substances, contains toxic chemicals, and at least 70 of these are carcinogens. These include polycyclic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), arsenic, and formaldehyde, as well as heavy metals.
The damage does not stop at the lungs. These substances are absorbed into the bloodstream and then spread throughout the entire body. Smoking is dangerous at any level, even if it is "light".
How Smoking Causes Cancer
The pathway of biological changes triggered by smoking to cause cancer is multifaceted.
DNA Damage – These bonds mutate DNA, disrupting the normal cellular process of growth and repair. They also enable the possibility of tumor formation due to the possibility of mutation over time.
Metabolic Activation of Carcinogens – Some compounds found in tobacco, for example, NNK, a tobacco-specific nitrosamine, become more harmful after the body metabolizes them, resulting in greater harm to the DNA.
Oxidative Stress and Repair Failure – The free radicals produced by smoke damage a person’s DNA and also reduce the efficiency with which the body can fix the damage.
Weak immune system – In this, the immune system also struggles to fight abnormal or precancerous cells.
Constant inflammation – Continuous exposure to harmful substances results in persistent inflammation, which encourages the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Cancers Caused by Smoking
Smoking poses a severe threat to one’s health, as the toxins from cigarettes travel through the blood and urine, reaching every part of the body, not just the lungs. The following types of cancer are directly associated with smoking:
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Lung and bronchial
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Oral and esophageal
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Bladder and kidney
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Pancreatic, gastric, and hepatic
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Cervical and ovarian
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Colorectal
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Blood, including acute myeloid leukemia
This is the reason cigarettes are the cause of cancer in at least 15 different organs.
Prevention: The Most Effective Step
Preventing initiation and encouraging quitting smoking are the most effective ways to mitigate the impact of cancer. The most critical steps of prevention are:
Education and Awareness – Instructing the youth on the effects of smoking will prevent them from trying and becoming dependent on smoking.
Public Health Policies – Prohibiting smoking in certain areas and the use of graphic warning labels results in reduced tobacco consumption.
Support Programs – Counselling with nicotine replacement therapy and other prescription drugs increases the probability of quitting smoking.
Healthy Lifestyle – It includes exercises, having a balanced diet, and managing stress.
Benefits of quitting
The body begins to heal from the moment a person quits smoking. Circulatory systems and lung function improve within a few weeks.
Lung cancer and heart disease risks drop significantly within a year. The risks of other cancers eventually decrease, too.
However, they probably would not reach the level of a non-smoker. Regardless, stopping at any age improves life expectancy and adds years of life.
Diagnosis of Smoking Cancer
Treatment options and positive outcomes always have high chances if detected early. Common diagnostic approaches include:
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Low-dose CT scans, X-rays, and MRIs - it can detect lung and other cancers, alongside performing imaging tests.
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Endoscopy - It is for cancers of the throat, esophagus, and stomach.
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Biopsy - identifying cancer cells in tissue samples.
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Blood and urine tests - for detecting chemical exposure or tumor markers.
People who smoke for a long time are often advised to undergo regular screening
Treatment of Smoking-Related Cancers
Treatment options and chances totally depend on the type of cancer, the stage, and the condition as well. Some treatment options are included
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Surgery – Tumor removal when diagnosed at an early stage.
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Radiation Therapy – A Beam of high energy to destroy cancer cells in certain regions.
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Chemotherapy – Medicines employed to target and kill fast-growing cancer cells.
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Targeted Therapy – Medicines that target specific cancer-causing mutations with fewer side effects.
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Immunotherapy – Enhances the immune system of the body to identify and combat cancer cells.
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Screening & Supportive Care – Smoking cessation during treatment and low-dose CT screening for lung cancer enhance recovery and long-term survival.
Conclusion
Among habits practiced today, smoking tops the charts of the easiest to control and the most dangerous. Smokers have a greater risk of developing multiple types of malignancies, not just limited to lung cancer.
It damages the body through DNA destruction, chronic inflammation, and the active or passive smoking of cigarettes. The most reliable methods for control of smoking are prevention and cessation.
Dr. Pooja Babbar, with 15+ years of experience recognized as the best medical oncologist in Gurgaon, provides timely consultations in the region and gives customized cancer screenings, comprehensive advice, as well as improved treatment plans for optimal health.
