Research Uncovers How Smoking May Cause Lung Cancer

A new study may reveal how smoking causes lung cancer.  Researchers have found that a protein responsible for repairing damaged DNA and protecting the body against cancer is affected by cigarette smoking.  Lung cells exposed to cigarette smoke produce less of the protein which normally prevents damaged DNA from causing cells to proliferate.

Smoking is the single biggest preventable cause of cancer.  The good news?  “Quitting works,” says Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK.  “After five years without smoking, your risk of a heart attack will have fallen to half that of a smoker. And after 10 years, your risk of lung cancer will have halved too.”

If you or someone you know has been thinking about quitting, it’s never too late to take the next step.  Read to original article at Reuters.com.