48.5% of Deaths from 12 Major Cancers Are Caused by Smoking

Almost half of the 345,962 deaths in 2011 from 12 types of cancer known to be smoking-related were attributed to cigarette smoking, according to a recent study.

The study was conducted in order to update data from the 2014 US Surgeon General’s report, which used data from 2005-2009 to estimate the number of deaths from lung cancer and “cancer overall,” but not specifically from 11 other cancers found to be smoking-related.
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In order to better understand the proportion of deaths from these cancers attributed to cigarette smoking, researchers examined smoking prevalence data from the 2011 National Health Interview Survey, as well as data from the Cancer Prevention Study II and from a pooled contemporary cohort, comprised of 5 other studies.

Overall, they discovered that cigarette smoking caused 48.5% of the 345,962 deaths from the 12 cancers.

Specifically, smoking was responsible for 9.7% of colorectum cancers, 50.7% of esophagus cancers, 16.8% of kidney and renal pelvis cancers, 76.6% of larynx cancers, 23.6% of liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancers, 80.2% of lung, bronchus, and trachea cancers; 14.6% of myeloid leukemia, 47% of oral cavity and pharynx cancers, 12.1% of pancreas cancers, 19.6% of stomach cancers, 44.8% of urinary bladder cancers, and 22.2% of uterine cervix cancers. 

"Cigarette smoking continues to cause numerous deaths from multiple cancers despite half a century of decreasing prevalence,” they concluded.

“Continued progress in reducing cancer mortality, as well as deaths from many other serious diseases, will require more comprehensive tobacco control, including targeted cessation support."

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Siegel RL, Jacobs EJ, Newton CC, et al. Deaths due to cigarette smoking for 12 smoking-related cancers in the United States. JAMA Intern Med. June 2015. [epub ahead of print]. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.2398