Smoking tobacco has a lots of ill effects on health. It can cause problems with breathing, digestion, skin, brain functioning and nervous system as a whole. It causes bronchitis ands emphysema. Smoking can be fatal in the long run. Along with all these problems, it is also known to be the cause of a large number of cancers. Cancer may be caused either by smoking or by exposure to secondhand smoke.
What kind of cancer does smoking cause?
Smoking can affect a number of organs and functions in the body and lead to cancers. Tobacco and its smoke are known to contain a large number of carcinogens. These cancers can, therefore, be caused either due to smoking or even just by continued exposure to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is the smoke exhaled by the smoker as well as the smoke emanating from the burning end of a cigarette.
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers caused due to smoking of tobacco. This is also the most common cancer in those exposed to secondhand smoke. This cancer may cause shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing which may be bloody. But in some cases, there are no symptoms at all till the cancer is in a very advanced stage. Its prognosis is usually quite unfavorable. Its treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery, depending on what stage the cancer is in. it can be quite painful.
Other than this, smoking tobacco can also cause cancer of the pharynx or throat, larynx or voice box, bladder, esophagus, stomach, pancreas as well as cancers of the mouth. It can also lead to acute myeloid leukemia, which is a cancer of the bone marrow.
These cancers may not always be fatal but can debilitate the affected individual to a great extent. These individuals may not be able to eat, urinate or breathe normally for the rest of their lives. This can be very draining and painful.
Other than these, it can also cause emphysema which is a chronic condition in which the individual is unable to breathe. There is no cure for this condition although it can be kept under control to some extent.
It is, therefore, best to stay away from smoking and tobacco to save yourself from these risks and lead a normal, healthy life.
