Association Between Smoking and Lung Cancer

Smoking significantly increases the risk of developing lung cancer because the chemicals in tobacco smoke damage the DNA in lung cells, leading to uncontrolled cell growth. Over time, this damage can cause mutations that result in cancer. Although not everyone who smokes will get lung cancer, the risk is much higher compared to non-smokers. Quitting smoking reduces this risk, and the longer a person remains smoke-free, the closer their risk gets to that of someone who never smoked. This strong link between smoking and lung cancer is well-supported by scientific research.