M.D. Seniors are by far at the highest risk of developing cancer. With cancer being the number two killer in the United States, people are asking what they can do to protect themselves. Prevention appears to be the key to controlling cancer, rather than waiting for some of the exciting experimental approaches to curing cancer, as these may still be years in the pipeline. The first thing to do is to check your life-style for risks. Number one on the list is avoiding cancer-causing substances.
Cigarette smoking is linked to lung cancer and other cancers.
Inhaled smoke exposes your lungs to 16 known human carcinogens, according to Craig Connolly, Director of the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program. Other cancers that appear to have at least some relation to smoke include those of the oral cavity, larynx, bladder, cervix, colon, and pancreas. Smoking results in one-third of all cancer deaths in the United States each year, mainly through lung cancer. It is also estimated that about 5,000 people in the United States die from inhaling second-hand smoke each year. A second culprit to avoid is excessive sunlight.