Smoking Linked to Colorectal Cancer

American Cancer Society report finding strong evidence for linking cancers of the colon and rectum to smoking. An analysis of the study concludes that long-term cigarette smoking is associated with an elevated risk of dying of these cancers and estimates that about 12% (6,800) of the 1997 deaths from colorectal cancer may be directly attributable to cigarette smoking.

Male smokers in the study had a 32% higher death rate than nonsmokers, while female smokers had a 41% higher death rate. The higher death rates increased with duration of the habit and the number of cigarettes smoked daily. Death rates were higher for smokers who began smoking at a younger age than those who smoked longer and more cigarettes per day.

"Clear benefits were observed among those people who had quit smoking; the longer ago, the higher the benefit,” noted Ann Chao, Ph.D., one of the authors of the study. The study was published in the December 6 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.



Related Links:
National Cancer Institute