Many of us are asking, how do we get cancer? There are a range of cancers and research being carried out around the world by scientists looking at causes and endeavoring to find cures. It is recognized that smoking is a major contributor to cancer, so that alone is a good reason to quit smoking.
Why Does Smoking Cause Cancer?
First we have to understand what is in a cigarette and the fact that people who do get cancer are normal human beings like everyone else. Anyone can get cancer, but smokers are definitely more prone to cancer. Smoking causes deadly diseases in the body including those related to skin, respiratory, throat, gastrointestinal and lungs. A cigarette contains more than four thousand harmful chemicals that include carcinogens or cancer-causing chemicals. These chemicals play a big role in contributing to cancer.
Imagine what a smoker does to their lungs, heart and other organs by smoking. Chemicals are added to a cigarette to make the smoker believe that it is good for them, in the sense that they think it calms them down or lifts them up. This is all an illusion performed by the chemicals. In actual fact there is no addiction there, the ‘need’ to smoke a cigarette is purely an immensely strong habit. Therefore it is not surprising that the most common disease that occurs when one smokes, is cancer.
Quit Smoking to Avoid Skin Cancer
There are many different types of cancer that are caused in different ways and effect different areas of the body. Skin cancer is an example. A recent medical research conducted in Europe says that smokers are 80% more likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer than non smokers. The research report also reveals that the number of cigarettes that are smoked on a daily basis is directly related to the risk for skin cancer. Smoking damages skin as it reduces the amount of oxygen flowing into the blood stream. Toxic chemicals in cigarettes also damage skin cells that develop cancer. Another not so serious side effect, except for the self conscious, is really dry and ageing skin.
Lung Cancer – Can it be Avoided?
Lung cancer is another cancer that is largely caused by smoking. Studies and observations prove that the root cause of lung cancer is smoking. Smoking plays a fundamental role in harming the respiratory system of the human body. The carcinogens cause cell damage of all the key organs of the body, leaving them damaged. The risk of lung cancer increases with the length of time a smoker exposes their lungs to harmful oxidants. The number of cigarettes a person smokes per day also plays a big role, therefore the more a smoker smokes, the higher the risk of lung cancer.
Quit Smoking to Avoid Gastrointestinal Cancer
Gastrointestinal cancer is the last type that I will touch on. This cancer is also very common and is more prevalent in smokers than non smokers. Deadly chemicals in cigarettes produce ulcers in the intestinal walls; these further develop into gastrointestinal cancer.
Medical science proves that smoking weakens the immune system of a smoker’s body, leaving it more vulnerable to all cancers and other fatal diseases including emphysema.
The question of how we get cancer is complex, as there are so many types and causes of cancer. With increased research there is more being discovered every day. So the question of the relationship between smoking and cancer is fairly indicative.
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