The big C : lung cancer.

Geoff Watts looks at the commonest, and most preventible cancer - lung cancer. Why don't people stop smoking? Of the 40m who die p.a., 4m die of smoking, 1m die of lung cancer. Lung cancer generally presents at a stage too advanced for surgery, so doctors have to use chemotherapy or radiotherapy. If one stops smoking, even in middle age, the body can repair itself. Tobacco advertising is very effective, and is increasing in developing countries. Education programmes, such as a successful initiative to stop Thailand's monks from smoking, can help prevent smoking. Dr J. Dillon showed slides of serious mouth cancer to shock children in East London. In China 2/3 of young men smoke and do not believe it causes cancer.