Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Smoking Linked To More Cancer Deaths Than Previously Estimated, Study Finds
The Washington Post: Death Toll From Cigarettes Much Higher Than Previously Estimated
Smoking cigarettes may lead to a whole lot more than just lung cancer, according to a new study that linked the habit to cancers of the esophagus, colon, bladder and eight other regions of the body. The research, published in the JAMA Internal Medicine Monday, estimates that nearly half of U.S. deaths to cancer of people 35 and older in 2011 -- 167,805 out of 345,962 -- were associated with smoking. (Cha, 6/16)
Reuters: Cigarettes Linked To Half Of Deaths From 12 Common Cancers
Roughly half of deaths from 12 smoking-related cancers may be linked directly to cigarette use, a U.S. study estimates. While the largest proportion of deaths associated with smoking were for cancers of the lung, bronchus, trachea and larynx, about half of fatalities from tumors of the oral cavity, esophagus and bladder were also tied to cigarettes, the study found. (Rapaport, 6/15)
Kaiser Health News: Although Smoking Has Declined, Its Consequences Haven’t, Study Finds
Smoking has long been associated with increased risks of cancer, but a research team has now estimated the number of deaths from a wide variety of cancers that are linked to cigarette use. According to a study published Monday in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, almost half of the 346,000 deaths from 12 different types of cancers in individuals 35 years of age or older in 2011 were attributable to smoking cigarettes. (Pockros, 6/15)
