How Smoking Causes Cancer? How Can We Spread Awareness About Cancer?

Lung cancer is one of the leading cancers among people and probably the deadliest as it causes the highest number of deaths of all cancers. While cigarette smoking causes lung cancer is the most common risk factor, people who do not smoke can also develop this chronic illness. On February 4 every year, World Cancer Day is commemorated to raise awareness on Cancer. It is an initiative under which the entire world comes together for the prevention, detection, treatment, and right education & information of Cancer. The aim is to also pressure the government bodies, organizations, and institutions to take action. 

DNA is found in all our cells and controls how they behave. Even one cigarette can damage DNA. Cigarette smoke releases over 5000 chemicals and many of these are harmful - we know at least 70 can cause cancer. The harmful chemicals enter our lungs and spread around the entire body and chemicals from cigarettes damage DNA. It makes it harder for cells to repair any DNA damage. They also damage the parts of DNA that protect us from cancer. It’s the build-up of DNA damage in the same cell over time that leads to cancer.

Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of cancer and stopping smoking is one of the best things we can do to reduce our risk of cancer. Use of tobacco has been found to cause around 15 different types of cancer including oral cancers, lung, liver, stomach, bowel and ovarian cancers, as well as some types of leukemia. Quitting at any age can make a huge difference, increasing your life expectancy and improving your quality of life.

No Perfect Answer is There On How to Stop Smoking, But What We Can Do To Create Awareness, Read Below:-

As individuals, we can take responsibility for our health, including getting vaccinated and reminding others to get vaccinated, maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle, avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and excessive/prolonged sun exposure.

Governments and policy leaders can implement vaccination programs to prevent infections that cause cervical and liver cancer. They can also regulate solariums and tanning salons, and ban the mining and export of asbestos.

Schools can provide information on cancer risk factors and be champions of healthy behaviors among children, staff, parents, families and the wider community, in particular, they can cultivate an environment that supports good nutrition and physical activity.

Employers can implement policies in the workplace to prevent occupational exposure to cancer-causing agents, such as asbestos and other workplace carcinogens, as well as create smoke-free spaces and promote physical activity and healthy nutrition among its employees.

Cities and communities can take the lead in creating a quality urban environment that promotes and protects the health and wellbeing of its citizens.

(Illustration by Alix Duhon)

Not every type of cancer is preventable but we do know we can prevent many cancers through lifestyle choices alone. Maintaining a healthy weight and making physical activity part of your everyday life can help reduce your risk of several cancers, which include bladder, breast, colon, endometrial cancer, esophagus, kidney, and stomach cancer. According to the World Health Organization, the world crossed a sobering new threshold – an estimated 20 million people were diagnosed with cancer, and 10 million died. WHO also says that at least one-third of common cancers are preventable through a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active.

Fact: Tobacco causes 8 million deaths every year and accounts for at least 25% of all cancer deaths.