In one of the largest studies of it s kind, the American Cancer Society tracked the health of that number of Americans over a fourteen year period, ending in the mid 90's. It s recent report for the first time links smoking with a much higher risk for colon cancer. The study found about 12 per cent of all colon cancer deaths in the U.S. may be directly attributable to cigarettes. The longer you smoke, the higher the risk.
Researchers can t yet explain the exact mechanism.
The colon is, after all, a long way from the lips. But Dr. Jonathan Samet, chairman of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins, says just a pack a day is enough to raise the risk. That s 200 puffs of very concentrated toxic materials. I think this study makes clear that we have more to lean. We should keep investigating smoking and health, and yeah, probably the public should know that there may be another bad thing that gets added to the list.