Insights in Chest Diseases

Cigarette Smoking: The Most Widespread and Insidious Weapon of Mass Destruction

Today, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death, and it is estimated that, annually, the lung cancer mortality is higher than colon cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Tobacco smoking is certainly the main indicted for lung cancer. The European history of tobacco begun thanks to Christopher Columbus but it was between the two world wars that it passed from a habitude for a few people to a social evil. The association between lung cancer and tobacco smoking is today a statistical certainty. Although the question for further tobacco control and improved cessation strategies is powerful, the utopian goal of a smoke-free society is still distant and lung cancer will remain among the top killers for decades unless radical reductions in smoking prevalence will be achieved.

Author(s):

Francesco Inzirillo, Casimiro Giorgetta, Eugenio Ravalli, Francesco Sangrigoli, Claudio Della Pona

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