Lewisville, TX – Aggressive educational campaigns and quit-smoking program have worked to drive the number of tobacco users down across the country. Despite these efforts, however, smoking remains a major cause of cancer-related deaths.

“Research is showing that there remains much work to be done in order to eradicate this controllable cancer risk factor,” says Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at Lewisville Flower Mound Oncology. “While efforts are paying off, the number of smoking-related cancer deaths remains too high for comfort.”

The latest study into the link between smoking and cancer-related deaths was released recently by the American Cancer Society. Study researchers looked at 12 of the primary cancers that have a tobacco connection and tracked the number of overall deaths. The number of deaths in 2011 related to these 12 cancers was 345,962. Of those deaths, researchers found tobacco use present in 167,805 of the patients who experienced morbidity.

Smoking has been strongly related to lung, tracheal, bronchus, oral cavity, stomach and colorectal cancers, among others. Researchers say some of the strongest connections are found in relation to lung, trachea and bronchus cancers where some 80.2 percent of the total deaths could be associated with smoking. For larynx cancer, 76.6 percent of the deaths were attributed to patient tobacco use.

“The bottom line is that while we are making strides, work remains to be done,” says Dr. Echt. “Smoking is not only related to cancer deaths, but a host of other potentially fatal diseases. Kicking the habit can have lasting, positive effects on health.”

People who smoke are urged to speak with their healthcare providers for advice and information on how to break the habit. Smoking can be a difficult habit to break, but help is available.

About The Company
Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group, a division of Choice Cancer Care – is an independently owned and operated oncology practice that is completely focused on unique, comprehensive patient care.