Smoking & Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed form of cancer in American men. Health-care professionals have performed extensive studies to find a link between prostate cancer and smoking.

Misconceptions

• Smoking does not cause prostate cancer on its own. According to the American Cancer Society, smoking acts as a cancer promoter by exposing circulating hormone levels to carcinogens.

Significance

• The relationship between smoking and prostate cancer remains uncertain due to the conflicting results of the research performed on the topic. However, studies have found links between current smokers, age, number of years smoked and prostate cancer.

Risks

• According to the American Cancer Society, middle-age men who are current smokers are 66 percent more likely to have the cancer spread outside of the prostate if they develop prostate cancer. Moreover, current smokers are 30 percent more likely to die if they are diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Time Frame

• According to the ACS, men who smoke at least 40 pack-years (a pack a day for 40 years or two packs a day over 20 years) were more likely to have more advanced prostate cancer.

Prevention/Solution

• Men who quit smoking before they are diagnosed with prostate cancer greatly improve their chances of having a curable form of the disease if it arises later on. Smoking greatly impairs long-term health; therefore, it is recommended that you avoid smoking to reduce the likelihood of developing chronic illnesses.