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Smoking
In 2005 there were an estimated 11,308 new cases of cancer and 8,155 deaths from cancer that can be attributed to smoking. This represents over 11% of cases and nearly 21% of cancer deaths.
Tobacco smoke contains more than 4000 chemicals, over 60 of which are known to cause cancer. When you inhale cigarette smoke these chemicals enter your lungs and spread through your body via blood and lymph systems.
As soon as you quit smoking, there are immediate and long-term health benefits, even if you already suffer from smoking-related health problems.
Chemicals in tobacco will also affect people who are exposed to your cigarette smoke. Second-hand or passive smoking poses health risks to adults similar to active smoking, and has also been associated with sudden infant death syndrome and asthma in children.
More information about the health risks of passive smoking is available in Cancer Council's position statement on the health risks of passive smoking.
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This page was last updated on: Tuesday, August 21, 2012
