What is the actual process in which smoking causes cancer?

Question

What exactly does a cigarette do to trigger the growth?

Answer 1

As others posted above, the process is complicated and varies, chemically, depending on the type of cancer.  In a nutshell, though, chemicals in tobacco smoke cause mutations in DNA that lead to cancer.

There can be mutations that increase expression of proteins that cause growth, mutations that decrease expression of proteins that inhibit growth, or of proteins that tell an abnormal cell to die.  Once there's a cancerous growth, there can be additional mutations that cause cells to become more motile and lead to metastasis, or that help blood vessels form to supply oxygen to the cancer and help it grow.

Answer 2

It's only theory, and hasn't been proven.

It is believed that the irritants in the smoke are causing

more cell regeneration and thus increasing the risk of

a genetic 'mistake' that can lead to cancer.

Answer 3

process by which smoking causes lung cancer however, is somewhat more complex. This is important to understand as often the simple notion that smoking causes cancer is not compelling enough of a reason for people to quit smoking. The actual process by which the smoking causes your body to lose control of its cells may be enough for some people to eliminate a fairly irrational activity from their lifestyle.

Answer 4

The mechanisms of ALL carcinogens are very similar.  They cause mutations in DNA.  Most of the carcinogens in tobacco smoke contain highly active derivatives of phenyl rings that readily bind with DNA bases.  This causes problems in replication and depending on where it happens it can lead to problems relating to how the gene affected is expressed that are great enough to cause cancer.

Answer 5

you breathe with smoke a carcinogenic hydrocarbon called benzpyren and tars which transform or help transform the normal cells of lung in cancerous

Answer 6

well u can get brain control.. umm here just think this as your dog follows u.. and your following cigarette i hope i answer it if im not im sorry =[

Answer 7

It varies greatly, depending on the specific cancer. There is hardly enough room here to describe it all. You could write a book about it! But generally speaking, it breaks down cells and blocks their ability to rebuild themselves properly, weakening the cells and making them subject to cancer. It also clogs up the lungs with tar, smoke, and nicotine, which prevents oxygen from getting to the cells. Without proper fuel, cancerous cells are able to begin to grow in place of the real cells.