Understanding Smoking, Nicotine and Lung Cancer Risks

Nicotine is the primary addictive substance in cigarettes. Although it plays a key role in sustaining smoking habits, some experts assert that nicotine is often mistakenly thought to cause lung cancer directly. Instead, research indicates that it is the other harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke that are the primary contributors to this risk.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and people worldwide come together for the lung cancer community to raise awareness and empower those impacted.

We have all heard about the link between tobacco smoking and lung cancer. Indeed, smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and is responsible for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases worldwide.

How does smoking cause lung Cancer?

While smoking isn’t the only cause of lung cancer, smoking cigarettes is the single most significant risk factor for lung cancer. Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals, including more than 60 well-established cancer-causing substances called carcinogens.

When carcinogens enter the cells in the lungs, they can cause the cells in the body to mutate, sometimes transforming into cancerous cells and altering a person’s DNA. When the poisons in tobacco smoke damage or change a cell’s DNA, a cell can begin growing out of control and create a cancer tumour.

Does nicotine cause cancer?

Nicotine is a natural chemical compound predominantly found in nightshade plants like tobacco, tomatoes and eggplants. It is the reason why most people smoke, but it doesn’t cause cancer, as it is not carcinogenic. People who smoke are more likely to continue to expose themselves to the carcinogens present in combustibles.

Nicotine at doses found in products such as nicotine gum or patches can gradually replace the need for nicotine from traditional cigarettes while minimising the exposure of consumers to carcinogens and other toxic substances in conventional cigarettes. Medicinal nicotine is, therefore, a safer alternative to tobacco products and is no more harmful than caffeine when used responsibly.

The Royal Society for Public Health UK, an independent, multidisciplinary, recently stated that charity stated that both caffeine and nicotine are stimulants with similar effects. Still, neither causes the severe harm associated with smoking. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), consisting of nicotine patches and gum, is included in the World Health Organization’s model list of essential medicines.