- Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of cancer in the UK
- Chemicals in cigarette smoke enter our blood stream and can then affect the entire body, this is why smoking causes so many different types of cancer
- Stopping smoking completely is the best thing you can do for your health, and there are many ways you can do it
Our bodies are designed to deal with a bit of damage, but they often can’t cope with the amount of harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke.
What types of cancer does smoking cause?
The link between smoking and cancer is very clear. It causes at least 15 different types of cancer.
Smoking causes around 7 in 10 lung cancer cases in the UK, which is also the most common cause of cancer death.
It causes other cancers including mouth, pharynx (upper throat), nose and sinuses, larynx (voice box), oesophagus (food pipe), liver, pancreas, stomach, kidney, bowel, ovary, bladder, cervix, and some types of leukaemia.
Smoking causes other diseases too, such as heart disease and various lung diseases.
What’s my cancer risk from smoking?
The number of years you spend smoking affects your cancer risk most strongly. For example, smoking one pack a day for 40 years is even more dangerous than smoking two packs a day for 20 years.
So, it’s never too late to stop. Speak to your GP or pharmacist, or visit NHS Smokefree for free support to help you stop for good.
The more cigarettes you smoke a day, the higher your risk of cancer, so reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke a day can be a good first step.
Research has shown that for every 15 cigarettes smoked, there is a DNA change which could cause a cell in the body to become cancerous. But the best way to reduce your risk is to stop smoking completely.
