In the recent years, numerous debates have prevailed concerning the dangers of smoking cigarettes, particularly as one of the major cause of the rising cases of lung cancer. However, much confusion still exists concerning the issue of tobacco and cancer. Some scientists have thought about the issue as well as studied the matter deeply, driving them to the notion that a link between smoking cigarettes and lung cancer may be nonexistent. Here, whether the link affiliated with the cause-effect relationship, it has not yet been answered regarding widespread scientific belief. Furthermore, although cigarette smoking is considered as causing ill health to individuals, not all smokers develop cancer or other illnesses associated with the habit (Feller, 2015). Thus, the paper will emphasize on arguments as to whether a link exists between smoking and cancer based on the arguments that strengthen it and those that weaken it.
The argument that strengthens the link between smoking and cancer revolves around the notion that smoking serves as the biggest cancer cause that can be prevented. Many years dedicated to research stipulate that the relationship between cancer and smoking are presently clear. Estimates reveal that smoking cause about one death out of four cancer-related deaths in the U.K. as well as about a fifth of all cases of cancer. During the twentieth century, Tobacco resulted to deaths of more than 100 million individuals globally. According to the World Health organization, it estimates that is the present trends proceed tobacco will be responsible for more than 1 billion deaths during the twenty-first century. However, the good news, in this case, is that it is possible to avoid these deaths by refraining from smoking. Concerning the case of lung cancer, smoking has caused about four out of five cases. Lung cancer serves as the key form of cancer with the lowest rates of survival, as well as the key leading cancer cause (Cancer Research, 2015). Furthermore, through smoking, individuals develop chances of getting other forms of cancer, which affect the mouth, bladder, gullet, pancreas, liver, kidney, cervix, bowel, sinuses, nose, as well as other forms of leukemia. Certain evidence also suggests that smoking might also raise risks for developing breast cancer (Cameron, 2016). Based on this argument, therefore, it is apparent that it offers a strong basis for the relationship that prevails between smoking and cancer, thereby contributing to the need for refraining from smoking.
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Despite the strong believe that a relationship between cancer and smoking, other arguments exist, which weaken the belief. For example, certain individuals argue that no prove exists to depict that tobacco is responsible for causing lung cancer, although it has been linked to play a certain role. According to the American Cancer Society in line with the developing body of scientific and professional opinion, they argue that even though cigarette is considered as playing a role in the current lung cancer prevalence, the prove provided has not satisfied everybody. Nevertheless, the evidence directed against it is severe to an extent public welfare stewards are focusing on ensuring that all individuals gain access to the evidence (Cancer Research, 2015).
In the case other kinds of argument about whether smoking is responsible for causing cancer or not, it would reveal that tobacco smoking is not responsible for cancer prevalence. To assess the argument, the paper will focus on a study whereby researchers came across some genetic markers, which are responsible for promoting cell longevity as well as eliminate their damage, which will explain why it is possible to prevent illnesses linked to the dysfunction of cells. Most of the identified markers are found in the pathways considered as vital foraging and animal model lifespans. Evidence exists that the genes might facilitate in extending lifespans through boosting cellular repair and maintenance. Thus, although certain individuals are subjected to high biological stressors levels, such as those in cigarette smoke, their bodies might be well equipped to manage as well as restore the damage causes (Feller, 2015).
To support the claim, the researchers utilized the Health and Retirement Study data to undertake a study on genomes to compare 90 smokers who have lived for long with 730 smokers aged between 52 and 69 years. From the study, they came across around 215-nucleotide polymorphisms that comprise the functional contact network, which makes it possible for individuals to endure damage to the environment as well as alleviate cell damage. The nucleotide polymorphisms group was utilized in comparing the smokers with about 6,447 individuals who did not smoke. Here, the study revealed that individuals having polymorphisms had 22 percent chances of surviving up to around 90 years or more. A similar comparison also revealed that the set portraying genetic disparities show 11 percent chances of reducing the prevalence of cancer. As such, this argument reveals that the genetic differences set would play a key role in facilitating future research on how to inhibit cancer since instability of genes is responsible for tumor development. From the argument, therefore, one may not entirely argue that tobacco smoking is entirely responsible for cancer development among individuals (Feller, 2015).
From the arguments, they do not entirely reveal that individuals should refrain from smoking. No sufficient evidence reveals that smoking is responsible for causing cancer, although it might serve as a risk factor particularly concerning the lung cancer case. For instance, considering what anti-tobacco agencies and the media stipulate, individuals might believe that smoking has a 100 percent correlation with lung cancer or more than 50 percent occurrence in case one opts for the word “cause.” The cancer development process is multifactorial and multifaceted, as it mostly revolves around genetics, cellular irritation, immune system, exposure duration, and DNA alteration among other forces. The common known forces comprise of exposure to asbestos, genetics, HIV state, sex, diet, vitamin deficit, pollution, laziness, or even shipbuilding. In case these forces are merged, they might result in synergistic influence although the risk forces are linked openly and independently with causing lung cancer. In this perspective, therefore, the arguments do not entirely reveal that individuals should refrain from smoking entirely as no concrete evidence links smoking with causing cancer (Siepmann, 2011).
In conclusion, it is evident that differing arguments exist concerning whether smoking is responsible for causing cancer. Certain individuals consider smoking as the leading cause of cancer, especially lung cancer. Others believe that no sufficient evidence exists to place smoking as a cause of cancer. Nonetheless, widespread evidence reveals that tobacco smoking serves as a risk factor for cancer, especially lung cancer, although other forces serve as direct causes. In this perspective, therefore, although no direct relationship prevails between smoking and cancer, smoking is not advisable, particularly because it may subject individuals to health hazards, which may result in cancer development.
References
Cameron, C. S. (2016). Lung Cancer and Smoking: What We Know. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1956/01/lung-cancer-and-smoking-what-we-really-know/304760/
Cancer Research. (2015). How smoking causes cancer. Retrieved from http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/smoking-and-cancer/how-smoking-causes-cancer
Feller, S. (2015). Study: Smoking doesn't always shorten life, cause cancer. Retrieved from http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2015/09/09/Study-Smoking-doesnt-always-shorten-life-cause-cancer/7811441818506/
Siepmann, J. P. (2011). Smoking Does Not Cause Lung Cancer. Retrieved from http://smokescreens.org/lungcancer.htm
