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Smoking heightens risk of colorectal cancer too
by Jamie Anderson - December 4, 2009 - comments
Smoking is injurious to health. It increases the risk of colorectal cancer too, researchers confirm
New York, December 4 -- There’s more bad news for people who haven't managed to quit smoking. It increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer besides the already well pronounced cancer of the mouth, throat, stomach, bladder and lungs.
"Colorectal cancer should be added to the list of cancers caused by smoking," Dr. Michael Thun, senior author of the study and vice president emeritus of epidemiology and surveillance research at the American Cancer Society said.
The study
The study carried out through 1992 to 2005 followed 185,000 participants, aged between 50 and 74 years.
Behavior and medical condition was tabulated for all participants. Each participant, although a long-term smoker, showed no signs of colorectal cancer at the start of the study.
During 13 years of follow-up, 1,962 cases of invasive colorectal cancer were identified, researchers reveal.
People who had smoked for over 50 years were at the greatest risk. They stood a 38 percent higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than never smokers, researchers reveal.
Smokers for 40 or more years, or those who smoked pass the age of 40 years stood a 30 to 50 percent heightened risk of developing colon or rectal cancer, opposed people who managed to quit the habit early, researchers found.
Moreover, current smokers had a 27 percent increased risk of developing colorectal cancer, as against 23 percent increased risk in participants who had already tossed their cigarettes.
The researchers adjusted for 13 other potential risk factors of colorectal cancer like, not getting screened, obesity, physical inactivity and a diet high in red meat and low in fresh fruit and vegetables before coming to the conclusion.
"We already know that smoking is bad. That doesn't change. A positive thing that comes out of this is that if you can stop smoking earlier, you eliminate your risk later on, but the more you smoke, the risk is higher," cautioned Dr. Michael John Hall, director of the gastrointestinal risk assessment program at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.
The findings of the study feature in the December issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer or large bowel cancer is a malignancy describing cancerous growth in the colon, rectum and appendix. The fourth most common form of cancer, it accounts for nearly 655,000 deaths worldwide per year.