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What Kind of Cancer Does Smoking Cause?

According to the National Cancer Institute, tobacco use--especially in the form of cigarettes--causes more preventable deaths in the United States than any other agent. There are over 40 carcinogens in cigarette smoke, which means that people who light up are putting not only their lives at risk, but also those around them. Cancer can affect many different organs in the body.

  1. Lung Cancer

    • The incidence of lung cancer escalated in the 1930s when smoking became socially acceptable, and according to the American Cancer Society, it claims more lives today than any other type of cancer. Some people who suffer from this form of cancer have a cough (new, persistent, or bloody), shortness of breath, and wheezing, while others have no pain or discomfort. Treatment, which depends on the tumor's stage--determined by its size and shape--includes radiation therapy, surgery, or laser, and may leave a person exhausted and sometimes short of breath. The prognosis for lung cancer is often not favorable.

    Mouth Cancer

    • Cancer of the mouth may first appear as a small painless lesion on the lip, the tongue, or inside the mouth that becomes painful when the tumor grows. Swallowing may be difficult, and foods may taste different. Oral cancer is treated with surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. After surgery and in the long run, people with this form of cancer may not be able to talk or eat as they did before.

    Larynx and Pharynx Cancers

    • The larynx (voice box) and pharynx (throat) sit very close to each other in the neck. Symptoms of cancer are similar in both organs: hoarseness, earache, and difficulty swallowing. There may be a lump in the neck. Treatment can permanently alter the patient's quality of life: his voice may sound different, he may have a stoma (hole in the neck for breathing) and/or a PEG tube (tube in the stomach for feeding).

    Esophageal Cancer

    • The esophagus carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Esophageal cancer is usually fatal, and most people do not live 12 months after symptoms first appear. Symptoms are vague (difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, weight loss), so the cancer is not recognized until it is too late.

    Bladder Cancer

    • The bladder stores urine. Bladder cancer manifests as painful, frequent, and bloody urination and is treated with surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy. When the bladder is removed, the person cannot urinate like before; there is a hole in the abdomen that attaches to a bag to collect urine. The bag needs to be emptied several times a day.

    A Final Thought

    • Smoking causes cancer, but not all cancers end in death. Cancer can mean debilitation, such as not being able to eat, breathe, or pee the natural way, which, is a high price to pay for smoking.

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