Memo from the Future: 2 P Hgb, Buy the Folks a Pack!

"Honey, what did you do with Mommy's lighter? Sweetie? Give it back to Mommy."
A new British study shows that children exposed to second-hand smoke have a 40% increase in the risk of developing bladder cancer in adulthood:

A team, partly funded by Cancer Research UK say their study into the link between smoking and bladder cancer adds to a growing body of evidence that suggests children and teenagers forced to breathe second-hand smoke are particularly at risk. Professor John Toy, Cancer Research UK's medical director, said the research justified the smoking ban. He said: "Although more research is needed to confirm the seeming effects of childhood exposure to second-hand smoke, the study's findings support the health value of the smoking ban in public places. "Evidence shows that smoke free places encourage smokers to give up or reduce cigarette consumption and, so, will reduce passive smoke at home."

If you aren't aware of what bladder cancer does to the human body, let me state it as scientifically as possible: it ain't pretty . Smoking - the gift to kids that keeps on giving, long after Mom & Dad have reaped their ultimate reward from the habit.

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Question about secondhand smoke: Is there any information available about the relative dangers of direct secondhand smoke--in the same room as smoker--versus indirect--smoker is in another room and you can smell smoke?

By PhysioProf (not verified) on 10 Nov 2006 #permalink

When I was a child I think the only adult I knew who didn't smoke was my Grandmother, and she only said that it wasn't ladylike. To them smoking was a rite of passage and in my father's profession almost a requirement. The army even included packs of cigarettes in c-rations. They really didn't know how bad it was for them until they were hopelessly addicted to it. A couple of years ago I was doing radiation treatments with a guy named Joe who was my fathers age. He'd go in for his treatment, step out and take off his oxygen to have a smoke while he waited for me to finish my treatments, then we'd have lunch together. He knew he would die from lung cancer and he still couldn't quit. Even he said they should make cigarettes illegal for everybody. Smoking is that addictive. I can understand him and my parents, but it's the kids today that choose to smoke. It's not like there is any question that it's going to ruin their health.

I am skeptical.

1) Can someone explain to me in a very detailed manner how smoking leads to bladder cancer? I'm having trouble making this connection. I don't mean epidiomologically, I mean the mechanism by which it happens.
2) The team was from Cancer Research UK. They had their conclusion before doing the study, I smell confirmation bias.
3) I need to see the actual study in detail before I believe this. If anybody finds a link to it please post.

~If anybody has any other evidence of second hand smoke dangers please email me. Please no anecdotes from news sources, I need the actual studies. Thanks.

To Spayced:

The association between bladder cancer and cigarette smoking is so strong papers like this get published:

J Urol. 2006 Dec;176(6):2405-8.

Are patients aware of the association between smoking and bladder cancer?

Nieder AM, John S, Messina CR, Granek IA, Adler HL.

Departments of Urology and Preventive Medicine, State University of New York,
Stony Brook, New York.

PURPOSE: Smoking is the single greatest risk factor for bladder cancer. Since few studies have demonstrated the efficacy of screening for bladder cancer, primary prevention by decreasing the modifiable risk factors is the best defense. An aspect of modifying a behavioral risk factor is awareness of the association between behavior and disease. While many anti-smoking campaigns
specifically focus on lung cancer, few mention bladder cancer. We evaluated the awareness of smoking as a risk factor for bladder cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Between February and May 2005 we prospectively surveyed patients presenting to a urology clinic regarding their knowledge of risk factors for bladder cancer and
other cancers. The questionnaire also captured data regarding patient smoking habits.
RESULTS: A total of 280 patients completed the survey, including 34% who were younger than 50 years, 63% who were male, 89% who were white and 57% who were college graduates. Only 36% vs 98% of the sample reported that smoking was a risk factor for bladder vs lung cancer. Patients with a higher level of education and females were statistically more likely to be aware of the
association between smoking and bladder cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Patients at a urology clinic had low overall knowledge regarding bladder cancer risk factors. Most patients queried had no idea regarding the relationship between bladder cancer and tobacco use regardless of smoking status. Our study suggests the need for the American public to be better educated to help combat smoking related cancers.

The risk of acquiring urinary bladder cancer increases not only with tobacco use, but with wacky-tobacky smoking, too. For more information read this:

Chacko JA, Heiner JG, Siu W, Macy M, Terris MK.
Department of Urology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA. Association between marijuana use and transitional cell carcinoma.
Urology. 2006 Jan;67(1):100-4.

this is comeing from a smoker and i am trying to stop but it is vary hard and u should not even try it and if u do ur so stuiped and u will have even a harder time to stop if u don't start

By jessie hoorn (not verified) on 10 Dec 2007 #permalink

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If you smoke you'll die

By Bob Merry (not verified) on 26 Feb 2008 #permalink