Tuesday 11 March 2003
On National No Smoking Day, scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research warn the public that 60 per cent of deaths from cancer among smokers are due to the tobacco habit.
Smoking dwarfs all other known cancer risk factors including diet, obesity, alcohol, lack of exercise, sunlight, pollution, occupation and known infections. Even when all these other risk factors are added together, in smokers they still only account for half the number of cancer deaths compared to those caused by smoking.
Professor Julian Peto, a scientist at The Institute of Cancer Research said “60 percent of deaths from cancer in smokers are avoidable. When an individual smokes, other risk factors to their health pale into insignificance, which is why we are urging smokers to quit.”
Tobacco smoking is linked with at least 14 different types of cancer which cause around 70,000 deaths every year. Lung cancer is the most widely linked to smoking and also one of the most deadly. It accounts for one in seven new cases of cancer; only five per cent of patients survive more than five years after diagnosis.
Less commonly known is the link between smoking and many other forms of the disease including cancer of the liver, the oesophagus, the ‘voice-box’ and the stomach.
Research also shows that smoking is associated with at least eight other serious medical conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, emphysema and cataracts and can also lead to reduced fertility and lower infant birth weight.
Professor Keith Willison, Head of the Chester Beatty Laboratories at The Institute says “We have known of the link between smoking and lung cancer since the 1930s. Increasing awareness and education since then has encouraged many established smokers to give up, and as a result deaths from lung cancer have fallen. However, 36% of male cancer deaths are still caused by smoking. Giving up smoking is the single most important step you can take to protect your health and your future.”
| US Cancer deaths that would be avoided by eliminating known risks |
| Cause | Deaths (%) avoided after removing preceding causes |
| Smoking | 60 | - |
| Known infections | 2 | 5 |
| Alcohol | 0.4 | 1 |
| Sunlight | 0.4 | 1 |
| Air pollution | 0.4 | 1 |
| Occupation | 0.4 | 1 |
| Lack of exercise | 0.4 | 1 |
| Diet | |
Overweight (BMI>25 kg m-2) | 4 | 10 |
Other dietary factors | 4-12? | 12-30? |
| Presently unavoidable | About a quarter | At least half |
Ref: J Peto. Nature 411, 390-395 (2001)
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For more information, please contact:
The Institute of Cancer Research
Tel: 020 7153 5359
email: [email protected]
Notes to editors
- The work of Ernest Kennaway, an Institute of Cancer Research scientist suggested a link between lung cancer and smoking in the 1930’s.
- The Institute of Cancer Research is one of the world's leading cancer research organisations and is internationally renowned for the quality of its science. Its mission is the relief of human suffering by pursuing excellence in the fight against cancer. The Institute is an Associate Institution of the University of London. The Institute works in a unique partnership with The Royal Marsden Hospital and together they form Europe’s largest comprehensive cancer centre.
- Professor Peto receives funding from Cancer Research UK
Please note:
Unfortunately the press office are unable to answer queries from the general public. For general cancer information please refer to The Institute's cancer information page.