Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in most countries, and is the primary cause of cancer death in men and women. Its epidemic increase in incidence began in the first half of the twentieth century, paralleling the uptake of cigarette smoking that occurred 20 years before. A series of landmark studies beginning in 1950 established tobacco as the primary cause of lung cancer. Current smokers have a 10- to 20-fold higher lung cancer risk compared to never smokers. Important for prevention, former smokers substantially reduce this excess risk 5 years after smoking cessation. Exposure to secondhand smoke, a well-established risk factor for lung cancer, has a 20%–25% higher risk for those exposed. There are several occupational exposures associated with lung cancer, including asbestos. Despite the success in defining lung cancer’s etiology, this highly preventable disease remains among the most common and most lethal cancers globally.
Did Smokefree Legislation in England Reduce Exposure to Secondhand Smoke among Nonsmoking Adults? Cotinine Analysis from the Health Survey for England