What is the link between tobacco and cancer risk?

  • Thread starter NeedBioInfo
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Cancer
In summary: Smoking does increase your risk of cancer, but there are other things that can increase your risk as well. Genetics and family history are two big ones, but there are also environmental factors. Smoking and high radon concentrations (usually only a problem in poorly ventilated houses with basements or on slab) increase the risk of lung cancer.
  • #1
NeedBioInfo
177
0
Whats been known to increase a person's risk of getting cancer?

I know a person's genetics have been shown to increase a person's risk of getting cancer
I know certain foods have been shown to increase a person's risk of getting cancer
I know (Obviously) smoking has been shown to increase a person's risk of getting cancer
and I know sun exposure has been shown to increase a person's risk of getting cancer

But what else has? I was just wondering because my friend has a family history of cancer and I wanted to talk to her about what she can do to lower her risks

thanks
 
Biology news on Phys.org
  • #2
How great is your friend's risk of cancer? Does she know she is at such high risk? Sometimes not even knowing you are at risk can increase the chances of getting it because you aren't taking the precautions to lower your risk. I'll look up some other risk factors.

~Kitty
 
  • #3
She knows she's high risk because of her family history but i don't think she's gone to a doctor or anything about it; (She pretty much grew up living with her grandma) I let her know that she could get tested for genetic markers and stuff though.

But I don't think she knows the precautions that she can take to lower her risk, that's why I was asking about them

thanks
 
  • #4
Ah, well at least she knows that she is at risk.

~Kitty
 
  • #5
NeedBioInfo said:
Whats been known to increase a person's risk of getting cancer?
Exposure to kitchen fumes. Low IQ. Poor antioxidant status.
 
  • #6
I think the largest cancer risk that you haven't mentioned is radon.
 
  • #7
what type of cancer? different types of cancer have different causes and risk factors. Excessive sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer, but not other forms of cancer. Smoking and high radon concentrations (usually only a problem in poorly ventilated houses with basements or on slab) increases the risk of lung cancer.

Genetics and family history can put a person at higher risk for some cancers while risk factors for other cancers are mainly environmental, with little or no genetic component.

If it's really an issue of concern for your friend, the best advice would be to have her express her concerns to her family physician and perhaps see about getting a referral to an oncologist or genetic counsellor for a more thorough assessment.
 
Last edited:
  • #8
There are some new and very interesting facts about smoking and cancer. Did you know that tobacco is actually radioactive.
There is something called Polonium 210, It is an alpha radiation that is found in the soil used to grow tobacco. In fact it is from the phoshate fertilizers used. Alpha radiation is different to nornal radiation in that it cannot pass through skin or even paper BUT when brought into contact with live tissue it creates what are called 'Hot Spots.' They are like open wounds that will not heal and as you smoke these wounds are attacked by the chemicals in tobacco smoked inhaled into the lungs.
The Polonium 210 deposited in the average "pack a day" smoker, which has a half life of 158+ days (that means half of it's mass is converted into lead, and the radioactive emissions are delivered directly to your lungs), delivers enough radiation as it decays; to be equal to the amount of radiation you'd get if you had between 300 and 8000 Chest X-Rays per year.

Not only that but this bears direct relation to the increase in lung cancer rates since the Clacium Phosphate fertilizers were introduced. Lung cancer rates among men kept climbing from a rarity in 1930 (4/100,000 per year) to the No. 1 cancer killer in 1980 (72/100,000) in spite of an almost 20 percent reduction in smoking. But during the same period, the level of polonium 210 in American tobacco had tripled. This coincided with the increase in the use of phosphate fertilizers by tobacco growers.

However smoking also attributes in another way. To be able to smoke and not cough and be sick everytime your immune system has to shut down. By shutting down it is unable to alert you to the change in cell structure in your body. This is one of the fundamental functions of the imune system. An early warning system. What happens is that by the time the body realizes something is wrong it is usualy quite far advnaced. If however you were a nonsmoker the imune system would alert you much earlier giving you optimum chance if recovery.

The Surgeon General C. Everett Koop stated that radioactivity, rather than tar, accounts for at least 90% of all smoking-related lung cancers.

The sad thing is that the tobacco companies know this but still continue to advocate phosphate fertilizers by tobacco growers.

Thanks
Ian
 

What is cancer?

Cancer is a disease that occurs when the body's cells divide and grow in an uncontrolled manner. These abnormal cells can form tumors, invade surrounding tissues, and spread to other areas of the body.

What are the risk factors for developing cancer?

There are many risk factors for cancer, including genetic predisposition, exposure to carcinogens (such as tobacco smoke or UV radiation), unhealthy lifestyle choices (such as poor diet and lack of exercise), and certain infections (such as HPV or hepatitis B and C).

How does age affect the risk of developing cancer?

The risk of cancer increases with age, as the body's cells are more likely to accumulate genetic mutations over time. However, cancer can occur at any age and is not solely limited to older individuals.

Can cancer be prevented?

While there is no guaranteed way to prevent cancer, there are steps individuals can take to lower their risk. This includes avoiding known carcinogens, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and getting regular screenings for early detection of cancer.

What are some common types of cancer and their associated risk factors?

Some common types of cancer include breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Risk factors for these cancers may include genetic predisposition, tobacco use, obesity, and age, among others. It's important to note that each individual's risk may vary and not all risk factors may apply to every person.

Similar threads

Replies
4
Views
811
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
30
Views
4K
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
21
Views
3K
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
4
Views
750
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
45
Views
2K
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
11
Views
5K
Back
Top