Since the late 1970s or early 1980s, women are just as likely to attempt to quit and succeed as are men. Thwarting further increases in tobacco use among women is one of the greatest disease prevention opportunities in the world today. A woman's annual risk for death more than doubles among continuing smokers compared with persons who have never smoked in all age groups from 45 through 74 years. The risk for lung cancer increases with quantity, duration, and intensity of smoking. The risk for dying of lung cancer is 20 times higher among women who smoke two or more packs of cigarettes per day than among women who do not smoke.
Smoking is a major cause of cancers of the oropharynx and bladder among women.
Evidence is also strong that women who smoke have increased risks for liver, colorectal, and cervical cancer, and cancers of the pancreas and kidney. For cancers of the larynx and esophagus, evidence among women is more limited but consistent with large increases in risk. Smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease among women. Risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked and the duration of smoking. Risk is substantially reduced within 1 or 2 years of smoking cessation.