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Smoking Also Causes Other Issues Like Urological Cancers

Cigarette smoking is the leading risk factor and link to many cancers. It contains almost 60 carcinogenic compounds that play this role. It has been a casual belief that smoking causes only lung cancer. However, research has been able to prove a strong associative link between smoking and urological cancers.

“Smoking introduces the carcinogenic chemicals into the blood. As kidney is the blood cleaning organ of the body it is able to filter out these carcinogens. Consequently, these compounds are released through the urinary system”

However, the urinary system that runs from the kidney to the bladder contains urothelium cells that are affected by the carcinogenic compounds causing cancer cells.The types of urological cancers caused by smoking are bladder, kidney and penile in order of susceptibility.

Bladder cancer

This is cancer where there is the growth of a tumor on the bladder lining. It is also called urothelial carcinoma. It is the sixth most common type of cancer with prevalence in both genders. It has a moderate progressive behaviour and a long-term survival. It has the highest prevalence along the urinary tract.

Smoking increases the risk of urothelial carcinoma. The age, gender and period of smoking affect degree of vulnerability to the disease with occurrence common among the old, the males and lifelong smokers. After diagnosis, continued smoking will cause adverse outcomes and continued recurrence of tumors. Bladder cancer can be treated easily if detected early and with proper long-time follow-up.

Kidney cancer

Kidneys are very vital in running of the body as they filter out waste products from the body. The most common type of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma that develops on the linings of the kidney.

It mainly affects the old; mostly above the age of 50 years and is more common in men.

Of all the environmental associations to this type of cancer, smoking has the strongest relationship. Smoking increases the susceptibility to this type of cancer by greater than twofold.

A combination of smoking and poor lifestyle factors e.g. obesity will eventually lead to kidney cancer.

However, with increased improvement in ultrasound and Computerized Tomography, it is easily detectable. Surgery is the only treatment suggested for all stages of the disease.

Penile cancer

This is cancer characterized by the formation of malignant cancer cells in the tissues of the penis. Its main cause is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

However, carcinogens absorbed by blood through smoking, are excreted through urine and interact with penile cells causing abnormal cell changes. This accelerates penile cancer. It is a slow growing cancer which when diagnosed early would lead to high up to 75% chance of survival.

Urologists have played a great role in proving the association between smoking and urological cancer. Awareness is the next step then efforts to stop smoking

It is a menace shown by its relationship with virtually all cancers. Quitting smoking is the best way to go. Starting a smoking cessation program reduces your risk of cancer by 30% between 1-4 years and by 60% after 25 years. Statistics never lie, follow the right path and stop smoking.

Tags: Effects of Smoking, Mens Health, Smoking, Urological cancers