Cigarette Smoking Responsible for 30% of Cancer Cases
The Deadly Effects of Smoking: Bayındır Health Group Warns About the Consequences
Dr. Muharrem Tokmak, a Chest Diseases Specialist at Bayındır İçerenköy Hospital, has issued a warning about the serious health risks associated with smoking. According to Dr. Tokmak, the risk of cancer increases by 10-30 times in smokers compared to non-smokers.
The hospital has revealed that tobacco products, particularly cigarettes, cause the deaths of more than 8 million people each year. Smoking is known to be an important risk factor for over 20 types of cancer, with lung cancer being the most predominant. It also contributes to respiratory diseases and cardiovascular conditions. Shockingly, 30% of all cancers, 50% of cancer-related deaths, and 90% of lung cancers are attributed to smoking.
Dr. Tokmak emphasized that between 80-90% of lung cancer patients have a history of smoking. He pointed out that lung cancer can progress without symptoms and that the age at which smoking starts, the duration of smoking, the type of cigarette smoked, and the amount of cigarettes consumed daily all affect the risk of cancer development.
It is estimated that approximately 17 million people in Turkey smoke, with 100,000 deaths occurring annually as a result of diseases caused by tobacco use. Dr. Tokmak underscored the need for lung cancer screenings for everyone over the age of 40, regardless of risk factors. He stressed the importance of non-smokers having an annual lung x-ray and being screened with lung tomography if suspicious lesions are detected. Smokers, on the other hand, should undergo a low-dose lung tomography at a chest diseases clinic annually, as it is the most crucial diagnostic method.
Dr. Tokmak also highlighted the paramount importance of seeking expert support to quit smoking. He stated that only 4% of those who try to quit smoking without assistance are successful, urging individuals to seek help from a specialist to overcome cigarette addiction.
The Bayındır Health Group’s warning sheds light on the pervasive and deadly effects of smoking and the medical community’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use.
