Smoking related cancers fact sheet

  Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States for both men and women

Tobacco-Related Cancers Fact Sheet

* Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States for both men and women. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2006)
* Lung cancer is the most preventable form of cancer death in our society. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2006)
* 87% of lung cancer deaths can be attributed to tobacco use. (Source: Cancer Prevention and Early Detection 2005)
* Lung cancer estimates for 2004 (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2006):
o New cases: 174,470
+ Males: 92,700
+ Females: 81,770
o Deaths: 162,460
+ Males: 90,330
+ Females: 72,130
* Besides lung cancer, tobacco use also causes increased risk for cancer of the mouth, nasal cavities, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, uterine cervix, and myeloid leukemia. (Source: Cancer Prevention and Early Detection 2005)

* In the United States, tobacco use is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths or an estimated 440,000 deaths per year during 1995-1999. (Source: MMWR, CDC, Annual smoking-attributable mortality and years of potential life lost and economic costs-United States, 1995-1999. 2002: 51:300-303.)

* In 2006, more than 170,000 cancer deaths will be caused by tobacco use. (Source: Cancer Prevention and Early Detection 2006)

* Tobacco use accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancer deaths. (Source: Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Facts and Figures 2005)

* Per capita cigarette consumption is currently lower than at any point since the start of World War II. Nonetheless, an estimated 25% of men and 20% of women still smoke cigarettes, with approximately 82% of these individuals smoking daily. (Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Facts and Figures 2005)

* Cigarette smoking among adults aged 18 and older declined 48% between 1965 and 2003—from 42% to 22%; nevertheless, an estimated 45 million Americans are current smokers. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2006)

* In 1997, nearly one-half (48%) of male high school students and more than one-third (36%) of female students reported using some form of tobacco—cigarettes, cigars, or smokeless tobacco-in the past month. The percentages declined to 32% for male students and 25% for female students in 2004. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2006)

* Each year, about 3,000 nonsmoking adults die of lung cancer as a result of breathing secondhand smoke and causes an estimated 35,000 deaths from heart disease in people who are not current smokers. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2006)

* Cigars contain many of the same carcinogens that are found in cigarettes. Cigar smoking increased 146% from 1993 to 2004. Cigar smoking causes cancer of the lung, oral cavity, larynx, esophagus, and possibly the pancreas. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2006)

* Among adults age 18 and older, national data showed 7% of men and 1% of women were current users of chewing tobacco or snuff. Nationwide, 11% of US male high school students and 1% of female high school students were currently using chewing tobacco, snuff or dip in 2004.(Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2006)

* Smokeless tobacco contains 28 cancer-causing agents (carcinogens). It is a known cause of human cancer, as it increases the risk of developing cancer of the oral cavity. (Source: CDC Website, Smokeless Tobacco Fact Sheet, 2005)

* Smokeless tobacco use can lead to nicotine addiction and dependence.

* Smoking caused more than $167 billion in annual health-related economic costs, including adult mortality-related productivity costs, adult medical expenditures, and medical expenditures for newborns (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2006)

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