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Most people know that cancer is associated with
smoking. Unfortunately, many don’t truly realize the increased risks and
seriousness of this disease, let alone its prevent ability. Smoking is a
toxin and, as such, it causes damage to every organ in the human body.
Therefore, it has been connected to at least 10 different types of
cancers, including pancreas, bladder, kidney, cervix, esophagus, larynx,
lung, and stomach, and is responsible for approximately 30% of cancer
deaths.
a) Lung cancer-
Sadly, more than 154,000 Americans died in 2002 from lung cancer, making it the number
one cause of cancer deaths for both men and women. Frighteningly, only
12-15% of patients who acquire lung cancer are currently being cured by
cancer treatments, yet more than 90% of all cases of lung cancer are
preventable because they are caused by smoking.
Symptoms of lung cancer include repeated attacks of bronchitis or pneumonia, coughing up
blood, a nagging cough, loss or appetite, pain in the arm and chest,
unexplained weight loss, wheezing, hoarseness, shortness of breath, and
swelling of the face and arms.
b) Cancer of the esophagus (Esophageal Cancer)-
The esophagus is a muscular tube that is
responsible for transporting food from the mouth to the stomach. It
occurs most often in men over 50 years old. There are two forms of
cancer of the esophagus. One type, squamous cell cancer, is closely
linked to smoking, as well as alcohol consumption.
Symptoms of squamous cancer of the esophagus include pain or difficulty when
swallowing, pain behind the breastbone, weight loss, indigestion,
heartburn, cough, and hoarseness.
c) Throat cancer-
Throat cancer, also known as laryngeal cancer, vocal cord cancer, or cancer of
the glottis, occurs when tumors form on the voice box, vocal chords, or
other areas of the throat. Smokers are at a greater risk of developing
throat cancer, and those who smoke and drink alcohol are at an even
greater risk. Throat cancer occurs most often in adults over the age of
50. In addition, men are 10 times more likely to develop throat cancer
than women.
Symptoms of throat cancer include a sore throat that
does not go away after one to two weeks, even after the use of
antibiotics. Hoarseness that persists for one to two weeks is another
symptom. General difficulty swallowing, neck pain, unintentional weight
loss, swelling in the neck, coughing up blood, and high pitched
breathing sounds are other symptoms.
d) Bladder cancer-
Bladder cancer generally occurs in the transitional cells of the bladder, which
are the cells that line the bladder. Smoking cigarettes makes a person
five times more likely to develop bladder cancer. In fact, up to 30% of
women with bladder cancer and 50% of men are caused by smoking. By the
nature of the cancer, bladder cancer spreads to nearby organs, including
the vagina, uterus, ureters, prostate, and rectum. It is also capable of
spreading to the pelvic lymph nodes, the bones, the lungs, and the liver.
Symptoms of bladder cancer include frequent urination, blood in the urine,
painful urination, and urinary urgency. Those with bladder cancer may
also experience bone pain or tenderness, urinary incontinence, anemia,
abdominal pain, weight loss, and lethargy.
e) Stomach cancer-
Stomach cancer, also known as gastric carcinoma, comes in a variety of forms.
The most common form Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of cancer
affecting the digestive tract in the world. It occurs most often in men
over 40. Diagnosis of stomach cancer is often delayed because there are
not early symptoms or because sufferers mistake it for other less
serious disorders, such as a sense of fullness, bloating, or gas.
Symptoms of stomach cancer include difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite,
nausea, vomiting, and feeling of fullness, abdominal pain, breath odor,
excessive belching, excessive gas, weight loss, and a general decline in
health.
f) Kidney cancer-
Kidney cancer is also known as renal cancer, adenocarcinoma or renal cells,
and hypernephroma. It affects approximately 3 in 10,000 people and 12,000 people die every
year from the cancer. It is more common in men than and women,
particularly affecting men over 55. A history of smoking dramatically
increases the likelihood of developing kidney cancer. This cancer
metastasizes, or spreads, very easily. It most often spreads to the
lungs or to other organs. Sadly, nearly 1/3 of patients with kidney
cancer have metastasized by the time it is diagnosed.
Symptoms of kidney cancer include abnormal urine color (such as rusty, dark, or
brown), blood in the urine, back pain, weight loss, malnourished
appearance, abdominal pain, enlargement of one testicle, and swelling of
the abdomen.
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