As August comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect on World Lung Cancer Day, observed earlier this month. This year’s focus has underscored the critical fact that tobacco smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer. Understanding this connection is essential for both prevention and treatment, emphasizing the need for continued awareness and action.
Cancer is a complex disease with multiple underlying factors, many of which remain unknown or challenging to combat. However, one significant factor is tobacco use, which has dramatically increased lung cancer rates over the decades, reaching a peak in the 1970s. National policies that have successfully discouraged smoking have led to decreased consumption and, consequently, lower lung cancer incidence and mortality. This historical context highlights the effectiveness of prevention strategies and the importance of continued efforts in this area.
A bit of history
The first red flags were raised more than 100 years ago, by independent reports of physicians. The first monograph on lung cancer was published in 1912 and mentioned the ‘abuse of tobacco and alcohol’ as one possible cause. Lung cancer was so rare at that time that when students saw a case, they were warned that it might be the only one they would see.
The parallel rise between tobacco use and lung cancer determined scholars to investigate this link by case-control studies. The first such study was published in 1939 by Franz Hermann Müller at Cologne Hospital, and other proofs appeared soon after that in the UK and the USA. In the 50s, Doll and Hill concluded that smoking at least 35 cigarettes per day increased by a factor of 40 the risk of dying from lung cancer. Animal studies performed with “tobacco juice” converged in the same direction. Development of cellular pathology brought new proof, by linking cigarette smoking with cilliastasis, which was observed in the lung areas where cancer developed. In the 30s, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons had been spotted as carcinogenic constituents, which were further identified in cigarette smoke. As a result, the tobacco consumption decreased and a well orchestrated counter-attack started, casting doubts on the new and worrying evidence.
Since the people received contradictory information, they remained undecided for a long time. In 1954, for example, only 41% considered that cigarette smoking is one of the causes of lung cancer. In 1960 almost half of the doctors were smoking and only a third of them agreed that cigarette smoking should be considered “a major cause of lung cancer” [1].
Our harsh reality
The most frequently diagnosed cancer in 2022 was lung cancer, with almost 2.5 million cases. There are also other cancers that can be attributed to tobacco smoking: oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, colon, rectum, kidney, bladder, cervix, ovary, and some types of leukemia [2-4].
Cigarette smoke contains 5000 types of substances, of which 70 are already proven to cause cancer. Second-hand smoke and ‘light’, ‘occasional’, or ‘social smoking’ still increases the risk of cancer [5].
Consumption rates are decreasing in many countries, but smoking rates remain high or even increasing in some parts of the globe. There are about 400 industrial-scale cigarette factories in the world, each of them causing thousands of preventable deaths per year. A 10-hectare field of tobacco will cause about 10 lung cancer deaths/year and 20 additional deaths from heart attacks, gangrene of the feet, cancers of the bladder and oral cavity, and others. Cigarette companies make about US$10 000 for every million cigarettes purchased, number which can be translated in one lost life [1].
Youth step in and speak out
World No Tobacco Day, which was observed on May 31 this year, focused on the critical issue of preventing tobacco consumption among young people. The campaign highlighted the alarming trend of new, flavored products being designed to appeal specifically to the younger generation.
“The industry targets youth for a lifetime of profits, creating a new wave of addiction. Children are using e-cigarettes at rates higher than adults in all regions and globally an estimated 37 million youth aged 13–15 years use tobacco.” is stated on the WHO page.
Encouraging early detection
Awareness campaigns and national initiatives focus on educating the public about the dangers of smoking and its role in causing cancer. World Lung Cancer Day further highlights the critical need for early detection. Despite these efforts, many cases are still diagnosed at advanced stages due to inadequate awareness and limited access to routine screenings. By combining robust awareness efforts with regular screening practices, we can significantly improve survival rates and ultimately reduce the impact of lung cancer.
For people at high risk for developing lung cancer, low-dose CT screening can be done. However, the best way of decreasing the risk is to avoid tobacco smoking.
Our commitment
As we reflect on World Lung Cancer Day and World No Tobacco Day, we’re reminded of the ongoing battle against lung cancer—a disease that is often preventable. These global observances underscore the importance of awareness, prevention, and the need for collective action to reduce the burden of tobacco-related illnesses.
At MVision AI, we are dedicated to empowering healthcare professionals with the advanced tools they need to deliver exceptional patient care and make a meaningful difference in the fight against cancer. Let’s support these heroes, as well as those affected and survivors, and work together to raise awareness and save more lives.
References
- Proctor RN. The history of the discovery of the cigarette-lung cancer link: evidentiary traditions, corporate denial, global toll [published correction appears in Tob Control. 2013 Jan;22(1):62]. Tob Control. 2012;21(2):87-91. doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2011-050338
- Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;74(3):229-263. doi:10.3322/caac.21834
- Tobacco-related cancers and prevention. International Agency for Research on Cancer. https://cancerpreventioneurope.iarc.fr/european-code-against-cancer/tobacco-related-cancers-and-prevention/
- Cancer and Tobacco Use. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/cancerandtobacco/index.html#:~:text=Tobacco%20use%20is%20the%20leading,and%20a%20type%20of%20leukemia
- How does smoking cause cancer? Cancer Research UK. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/smoking-and-cancer/how-does-smoking-cause-cancer
- World No Tobacco Day. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-no-tobacco-day/2024
