Q: Does smoking really cause cancer? A: It is estimated that 30% of all cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancers are caused by smoking. Smoking postmenopausal women increase their risk of breast cancer risk by 60%. Smoking is also a causal factor in the development of throat, mouth, bladder, kidney, cervix and pancreatic cancer.

Q: What is the survival rate for lung cancer? A: Less than 15% over five years. The problem is that it is a silent disease, producing few or no symptoms until it is too far advanced to be treated successfully. Thus, it is often diagnosed too late. Fortunately, lung cancer is largely preventable by not smoking.

Q: Why doesn't everyone who smokes get lung cancer? A: Although 10% to 15% of smokers die of lung cancer, many others die of heart attacks. However, because there are many variables involved in terms of genetics, biology, and environment, everyone does not react the same. But one's chances of developing lung cancer greatly increase if one smokes.

Q: What if you don't inhale? A: Despite what ex-President Clinton thinks, not inhaling does not amount to not harming. All smokers, whether or not they inhale, use pipes, cigars or light cigarettes, have increased risk of lip, mouth, tongue and lung cancer due to either first or second hand smoke.

Q: Are there any other lung diseases caused by smoking ? A: Smoking is a major cause of a chronic, obstructive lung disease called emphysema, which gradually destroys breathing capacity. Over 10,000 Americans are crippled or killed by emphysema each year.

Q: Is the heart affected by smoking? A: It definitely appears so. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, smoking is linked to 30% of the deaths (which amounts to 54,000/year) due heart disease and stroke.

Q: How role does oral contraceptives have in heart disease? A: Although women who use oral contraceptives have twice the risk of heart attack, smoking women who use birth control pills have ten times the risk of heart attack.

Q: What causes "Smoker's Cough"? A: Cilia, tiny hairlike structures lining the airways, expel foreign particles from the lungs. The irritants in smoke stimulate the protective mechanisms of the airways and lungs, causing coughing. However, when cilia are repeatedly exposed to smoke over a long period of time, their action is permanently destroyed. This allows the lungs to become far more vulnerable to the harmful effects of smoking.

Q: What other risks are there from smoking? A: Smoking is the primary cause of drug interactions. This means that smoking alters the effects of medications, possibly rendering them ineffective. This may also result in significantly inaccurate diagnostic test results in smokers.

Q: Why should you worry about smoking when drugs, alcohol and violence seem like greater threats? A: The combined fatalities due to drugs, alcohol, AIDS, murder, car accidents and suicides still don't exceed the number of smoking related deaths due to cancer and heart disease.

Q: Is there any risk to smoking occasionally? A: Every time you smoke or are exposed to second hand smoke, you are exposed to some risk. Light smokers also show lung damage on autopsy. Inevitably, light smokers become heavier smokers. In any case, whether it's sooner or later, the total toxic burden born by the body over time will eventually manifest itself in increased illness, disease or premature death.

Q: How long does it take for smoking to cause damage? A: It's instantaneous. As soon as the smoke makes contact with living tissue, it attacks it and continues to do so wherever it or it's breakdown products go.

Q: What can be done to prevent cancer? A: More than 70% of all cancers may be related to the lifestyle choices we make. Smoking and diet are the two greatest determinants of new cases of cancer. Prevention and early detection give us the best chance of controlling cancer.

Q: Is there any way to prevent permanent damage from smoking? A: Yes. If the smoker stops before the onset of irreversible heart and circulatory disease, the body begins to repair itself.