Everyone knows that smoking is bad for the lungs. People who smoke have over 10 times the risk of lung cancer compared to never-smokers. This figure is so attention-grabbing that many people forget that smoking can increase risk of other cancers too.
A large meta-analysis, which is a type of study that combines results from many smaller studies, looked at the connection between smoking and colon cancer. The results are persuasive, to say the least.
Current smokers had more than twice the risk of being diagnosed with an adenoma compared with never-smokers. An adenoma is a growth in the colon that can develop into colon cancer if not found and removed through tests such as a colonoscopy. Also of interest: The risk was strongest for "high-risk" adenomas - the type of growths that are most likely to go on to become cancer.
Never Too Late to Quit
When people quit smoking, their risk of cancer, heart disease, and stroke begin to drop measurably. In some cases disease risks drop within hours of quitting!
No matter how long you've used tobacco, you can improve your health by quitting. Learn more about how you can free yourself from smoking for good.
