According to an article published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, smoking is responsible for the majority of laryngeal cancer in Central Europe.
The majority of head and neck cancers are cancers of the larynx, or voice box. Central Europe has some of the highest incidence rates of laryngeal cancer in the world. Researchers are continuing to evaluate potential links between smoking and other environmental variables and the risk of laryngeal cancer.
Researchers from Europe recently conducted a clinical study to evaluate the potential role of both tobacco and alcohol in the development of this disease.
The study found:
- Approximately 87 percent of laryngeal cancer is attributed to the use of tobacco
- 75 percent of laryngeal cancer is attributed to current tobacco use
- 12 percent is due to past tobacco use
- Nearly 40 percent of laryngeal cancers are attributed to the interaction between alcohol and tobacco
- Stopping smoking for five years or longer protected individuals against the development of laryngeal cancer
- Alcohol use alone was not significantly associated with an increased risk of developing laryngeal cancer
The authors of the study states "Preventive efforts to encourage current smokers to quit are likely to be the most effective way to reduce the incidence of laryngeal cancer in this region"
