Tobacco Documents Online

~,....,: ; - . ,. . , . . _ . . -..., y.... _.. t~.,..: Bannin9 cigarettes seen~ ~ ~ as best anti-cancer move WASHINGTON -AP -Banning the ci;a- rette would be the single most effective way to reduce the cancer rate for Ameri- cans, a medical specialist claims in a re- port on the risks of the No. 2 cause of death. "No single known measure would lengthen the life or improve the health of the American population more than elimi- rdi~g to i_nating cigarette smoking," acco ; Dr. Brian MacMahon of the arvard Uni- th . versity School of Public Heal MacMahon's comment came in connec- tion with a'oint NaCional Cancer Institute- cer i ors causing canceo screening po- tential victims. The report was released ~It shows clearly that- there is probably no single cause or single cure for all can- cers. Instead, some forms of the disease apparently are caused by two or even ttore factors working together. "We Uve with thousands of things that birlle tb! Rotatial of causing cancer either aMW Or lfi elmblrAtioa," said Dr. Frank ~i~`c m 014+160** *v • ~ J. Rauseber Jr., director of the fiaUoaal i Caocer Institute. ~ 1?lut= MacMahon said that smcki:~ in- creases the risk of lung cancer by at least ten-fold. When smoking is combined with other factors such as asbestos dust or ex- ~ cessive use of alcohoi, the risks get even greater, according to the report. Anotber trend pinpointed- by research- ers shows that women with a family histo- ry of breast cancer run-six to nine times the risk of developing the disease as other - women. In additior., womern who gave birth late in life or whose menstrual cycle started early also seem to run greater chances of breast cancer. And the report said, prostitutes have a greater chance of cervical cancer than less sexually active women. - Much of the report dealt with "preven- tive oncology," finding ways of screening thR population to identify persons with higher risks of getting cancer beause of family background, jobs, drugs they have used or lifestyie: Oncology is the study of tumors. f RooRm r/JW/74C - 1