[Smoking and the risk of cancer]

Abstract

Consumption of tobacco, alone and in combination with alcohol, is one of the most important factors in the development of cancer. Besides lung cancer, the neoplasms of the oral cavity, the larynx, the esophagus, the pancreas, the kidneys and the bladder rank among the tobacco-related cancers. But also stomach and cervical cancer are connected with the use of tobacco. Passive smokers are confronted with a higher risk of lung cancer, and the risk of developing childhood cancer (e.g. Wilms tumor, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) has been widely considered to be correlated with smoking by the mother during pregnancy. Many investigators are now trying to identify risk groups of smokers to decrease the rate of cancer cases and deaths. Although this research is of great interest, it would be of course much more effective to prevent the risks by not smoking. Epidemiologists estimate, that approximately 30% of all cancer cases could be avoided by this means.