Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.
If the spread is not controlled, it can result in death. Causal factors may act together or in sequence to initiate or promote carcinogenesis. Ten or more years often pass between exposures or mutations and detectable cancer. All cancers caused by cigarette smoking and heavy use of alcohol could be prevented completely. The ACS estimates that in 1998 about 175,000 cancer deaths are expected to be caused by tobacco use and an additional 19,000 cancer deaths are related to excessive alcohol use, frequently in combination with tobacco use.