(MENAFN – Gulf Times) Experts at the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Tobacco Control Center have warned that smoking is one of the leading causes of colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer in the world by March designated as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Dr Ahmad al-Mulla, head of the HMC Tobacco Control Center, explained that many epidemiological studies show that smokers are at an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.
While several factors can lead to the development of colon cancer, including inherited genetic mutations, unhealthy lifestyles such as eating a low-fiber or high-fat diet and following an unhealthy lifestyle. active, smoking can adversely affect disease progression and response to treatment.
Tobacco use has been associated with increased cancer growth and metastasis of tumor cells in cancer patients, thus increasing the risk of cancer-related death.
Studies show that death rates associated with colorectal cancer are significantly higher in smokers compared to non-smokers. Studies have also shown that the role and duration of smoking can play a role in increasing the risk of developing colon cancer, as the incidence of this type of cancer has decreased among those who have stopped smoking early (before -at least 10 years) compared to those who continued to smoke. Other studies have found that women who smoke are at greater risk of developing colon cancer than male smokers, Dr. al-Mulla said.
Commenting on the importance of stopping smoking as early as possible and its role in preventing colorectal cancer, Dr Jamal Abdullah, a smoking cessation specialist at HMC’s Tobacco Control Center, said: the sooner a person quits smoking, the more likely they are to develop colorectal cancer.
Dr Abdullah said tobacco contains many ingredients that can damage the DNA. Over time, the body’s ability to repair this damage decreases. However, the body will begin to get rid of all toxic tobacco products if the smoker stops this harmful habit early. The available evidence is strong enough to suggest that the risk of developing colon cancer due to smoking is high. The American Cancer Society recommends that smokers, and especially those with a family history of colon cancer, should be screened for colon cancer at age 40 compared to the normal age of 50 years. recommending for colon cancer screening, they noted Dr. Abdullah.
Dr Abdullah emphasized the importance of immediate cessation of smoking for those diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He explained that continuing to smoke after a cancer diagnosis, regardless of the type of cancer, can significantly affect the rate of tumor growth, adversely affect the patient’s response to treatment, and increased risk of developing more tumors. He noted that several studies have identified an association between smoking cessation and the increased likelihood of people living with cancer compared to those who were diagnosed with cancer but did not stop smoking.
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