Despite a greater understanding of the effects of tobacco use on health, it remains one of the leading causes of death globally. A new report from the American Cancer Society (ACS) finds that 50 percent of all cancer deaths globally are attributed to modifiable cancer risks—26 percent of these causes are the direct result of tobacco usage. 

In 2019, three times as many men died from tobacco-related deaths, 36 percent, compared with 12 percent of women. Additionally, 19 percent of women who died from cancer were located in the Americas region which includes North America, Central America, South America, Cuba and the Caribbean Islands.

According to ACS Global Cancer Facts and Figures, smoking cigarettes or using other types of tobacco is the largest avoidable cause of cancer deaths worldwide, however, in 2019 it was responsible for 2.6 million cancer deaths globally. 

In its latest report authored by Sandy McDowell, director of digital research content at ACS, it was noted that using tobacco leads to many more cancers than other potentially modifiable behaviors such as drinking alcohol or not exercising enough. McDowell noted interventions that could help people successfully quit smoking could have the largest worldwide positive effect.

Tobacco use has been recognized as a contributing factor to 14 kinds of cancer, with lung cancer being the direct result of tobacco use in 7 out of every 10 deaths. 

McDowell noted other potentially modifiable risk factors contribute to death from cancer around the world, adding that none of them come close to the harm caused by cigarettes and other forms of tobacco. 

“Unhealthy diet, excess body weight and alcohol consumption each contribute approximately 5 percent to 6 percent of total cancer deaths,” she said.

The report noted that areas such as Africa continue to see low rates of lung cancer, while China is seeing a surge of cases, particularly among women.

Aggressive tobacco marketing, coupled with inadequate governmental policies, contributes to the increases in smoking in many countries, according to the ACS. The report noted that one of the most effective interventions to reduce tobacco use is to increase the average tobacco tax.