How come some smokers don’t develop lung cancer?

The fact is that not all smokers develop cancer but it is still not known why. Different people react differently to the 4,000 chemicals contained in cigarette smoke depending on their genetic and biological make-up. However, the fact is that the risk of developing lung cancer increases sharply the more you smoke and the longer you smoke. According to some researches, 1 in 11 men and 1 in 17 women will develop lung cancer in their lifetime.

Tobacco and other types of cancers

Cancers of the mouth and throat

Several researches have tried to prove that smoking cigarettes is a risk factor for all cancers associated with the larynx, oral cavity and esophagus. It is proven that over 90% of patients with oral cancer use tobacco by either smoking or chewing it. The risk for these cancers increases with the number of cigarettes smoked and those who smoke pipes or cigars experience a risk similar to that of cigarette smokers. 

Bladder cancer

Tobacco smoking is the principal risk factor for bladder cancer in both men and women. It is estimated that current smokers are 2-5 time more likely to develop bladder cancer than non-smokers. 

Breast cancer

Some studies have proven that there is a link between smoking and breast cancer. Most epidemiological studies have found no association between active smoking and breast cancer but a new study found that among women who have smoked for 40 years or longer the risk of breast cancer was 60% higher that that of women who have never smoked. 

Cervical cancer

Cancer of the cervix has been found to be associated with cigarette smoking in many case-control studies. Smoking is the second most significant environmental factor after human papilloma virus.