Tobacco-Related Cancer Fact Sheet
From the American Cancer Society
  • Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States for both men and women. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2010)
  • Lung cancer is the most preventable form of cancer death in our society. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2010)
  • Lung cancer estimates for 2010 (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2010):
  • New cases of lung cancer: 222,520
    Males: 116,750
    Females: 105,770
  • Deaths from lung cancer: 157,300
    Males: 86,220
    Females: 71,080
  • Besides lung cancer, tobacco use also causes increased risk for cancers of the mouth, lips, nasal cavity (nose) and sinuses, larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, uterine cervix, and acute myeloid leukemia.                      (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2010)
  • In the United States, tobacco use is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths; this equaled about 443,000 early deaths each year from 2000 to 2004. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2010)
  • Tobacco use accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancer deaths. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2010)
  • Cigarette use has had a dramatic decline since the release of the first US Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health in 1964. Even so, about 24% of men and 18% of women still smoked cigarettes in 2009, with almost 80% of these people smoking daily.
(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 9/10/10) 
For more information about tobacco and how to quit using tobacco, please visit the American Cancer Society at: www.cancer.org  

      ** Tobacco Use Is a Tremendous Burden to All Texans!**

In Texas, tobacco use is the single greatest preventable cause of premature death and disease.
·         Tobacco use is a major risk factor for multiple cancers, heart disease, stroke and lung disease.
·         Approximately 24,000 adults die of a smoking-attributable illness every year in Texas. That is more than die from AIDS, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, car accidents, fire and murder – combined.
·         For every one person who dies from tobacco-related causes, there are 20 more people who are suffering with at least one serious illness from smoking.

Smoking is a health threat to nonsmokers.
·         Secondhand smoke contains a complex mixture of over 4,000 chemicals, more than 50 of which are cancer-causing agents (carcinogens).
·         Secondhand smoke is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer and coronary heart disease in non-smoking adults.
·         Because their lungs are not fully developed, young children are particularly vulnerable to secondhand smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke is associated with an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia in young children.

Tobacco use COSTS Texas businesses and taxpayers money.
·         In 2004, tobacco-related disease cost the state approximately $12.2 billion ($5.8 billion in direct medical costs and an additional $6.4 billion in lost worker productivity).
·         In 2004, $1.6 billion of all Medicaid expenditures were spent on smoking-related illnesses and diseases.
**Resources... www.texastobaccolaw.org