Cigarette smoking is the most significant cause of lung cancer. Research as far back as the 1950s clearly established this relationship.
- Cigarette smoke contains more than 4000 chemicals, many of which have been identified as causing cancer.
- A person who smokes more than 1 pack of cigarettes per day has a risk of developing lung cancer 20-25 times greater than someone who has never smoked.
- Once a person quits smoking, his or her risk for lung cancer gradually decreases. About 15 years after quitting, the risk for lung cancer decreases to the level of someone who never smoked.
- Cigar and pipe smoking increases the risk of lung cancer but not as much as smoking cigarettes does
About 85% of lung cancers occur in a smoker or former smoker. The risk of developing lung cancer is related to the following factors:
- The number of cigarettes smoked
- The age at which a person started smoking
- How long a person has smoked (or had smoked before quitting)
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