Millions of Cancer Cases Linked to Tobacco
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Thursday that millions of cancer cases were caused by tobacco.
Lung and bronchial cancer accounted for nearly half the cases. However, the CDC found cancers of the larynx, mouth and pharynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, cervix, as well as acute myelogenous leukemia are also caused by tobacco.
Researchers looked at cancer cases from 1999 to 2004.
"The data in this report provides additional, strong evidence of the serious harm related to tobacco," said Sherri Stewart of the CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, who led the study.
The CDC research team studied cancer surveys and registries covering 92 percent of the U.S. population. They found the state of Kentucky had the highest rates of lung cancer among men and women. Western states with low rates of smoking also had low rates of cancer.
The CDC noted in the report, that tobacco-related cancers were more common among blacks, non-Hispanic whites and men. This data reflects the groups that use tobacco more frequently.
"Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States and the most prominent cause of cancer," said the CDC’s Dr. Matthew McKenna.
"The tobacco-use epidemic causes a third of the cancers in America."
The CDC said tobacco use kills 438,000 people every year. That number includes 38,000 people who breathe only secondhand smoke.
The report said, "Tobacco use causes more deaths each year than alcohol use, car crashes, suicide, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), homicide, and illegal drug use combined."
"In addition, smoking accounts for $167 billion annually in health care expenditures and productivity losses."
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