Ben Affleck, 51, And Eliminating The Risky Habit Believed To Be Silver Bullet To Reducing Cancer Deaths Roughly 25%, New Research on Rising Cancer Cases

According to researchers, the number of annual cancer diagnoses will jump from roughly 20 million today to 35 million by 2050. The figure puts added pressure on cancer awareness advocates and healthcare practitioners because some of these cancer cases are preventable, according to experts.

“This rise in projected cancer cases by 2050 is solely due to the aging and growth of the population, assuming current incidence rates remain unchanged,” said Dr. Hyuna Sung, senior principal scientist, cancer surveillance at the American Cancer Society and co-author of the report.

“Notably, the prevalence of major risk factors such as consumption of unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, heavy alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking are increasing in many parts of the world and will likely exacerbate the future burden of cancer barring any large-scale interventions.”

Perhaps a notable highlight of the report was the number of cancers that could be prevented by eliminating tobacco use.

“[Eliminating] tobacco use alone could prevent 1 in 4 cancer deaths or approximately 2.6 million cancer deaths annually,” said Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president of surveillance & health equity science at the American Cancer Society and senior author of the study.

Tobacco, more specifically smoking cigarettes, is a significant risk factor for lung cancer, which is “the most commonly diagnosed cancer and leading cause of cancer death overall and in men worldwide,” the American Cancer Society says.

Smoking and Cancer Risk

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women in the United States. Nonsmokers still get lung cancer, but cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for the disease. Tobacco smoke contains a mixture of more than 7,000 different chemicals, at least 70 of which are known to cause cancer, the CDC says.

The CDC says cigarette smoking is linked to about 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths, and people who smoke cigarettes are 15 to 30 times more likely to get lung cancer or die from lung cancer than people who don’t smoke. Additionally, second-hand smoke can cause lung cancer.

WATCH: Quitting Smoking Can Help the Success of Your Lung Cancer Surgery

Smoking is, of course, the primary cause of lung cancer, but nonsmokers can and do develop this disease. Researchers have made progress in understanding the differences between lung cancer in smokers versus nonsmokers, says Dr. Ronald Natale, a medical oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and they’re developing targeted treatments that will be able to address the genetic drivers of lung cancer in nonsmokers.

“Among patients who are nonsmokers, or former very light smokers, we identify a mutation that we can target with pills in about 60% to 70% of them. That leaves 30% or so, 40%, in whom we either have a target for which we do not have successful treatment,” Dr. Ronald Natale, a medical oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, tells SurvivorNet.

“Among patients who are smokers, who have more complex cancers that have hundreds, sometimes thousands of mutations, don’t have a driver mutation that we can give a pill for, which is only a tiny percentage of lifelong smokers. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment in most patients,” Dr. Natale explains further.

WATCH: Does Smoking Marijuana Cause Lung Cancer?

Understanding Lung Cancer

Lung cancer forms when cancer cells develop in the tissues of the lung. It is the second most common form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the U.S., SurvivorNet experts say. The reason is that it’s “completely asymptomatic,” says the thoracic surgeon-in-chief at Temple University Health System, Dr. Joseph Friedberg.

“It causes no issues until it has spread somewhere. So, if it spreads to the bones, it may cause pain. If it spreads to the brain, it may cause something not subtle, like a seizure,” Dr. Friedberg adds.

WATCH: Detecting lung cancer in the absence of symptoms.

Scans such as X-rays can help doctors determine if a shadow appears, which can prompt further testing for lung cancer.

Lung cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms until it has already spread outside the lungs, according to SurvivorNet’s experts.

There are two main types of lung cancer, which doctors group together based on how they act and how they’re treated:

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type and makes up about 85% of cases.
• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less common, but it tends to grow faster than NSCLC and is treated very differently.

If you quit smoking, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing the disease and dying from it.

Treatment options for lung cancer depend on its type, its location, and its staging. In general, treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of any of these treatments.

Strategies to Help Smokers Curb Their Tobacco Habit

• Nicotine replacement therapy. Long-acting therapies like nicotine patches can be paired with short-acting therapies (including nicotine gum, lozenges, nasal spray, and inhalers) to cope with intense cravings.
• Steer clear of triggers. Cravings can be provoked by situations in which you are used to having tobacco.
• Wait. If you feel yourself on the brink of giving in to a tobacco craving, delay smoking for 10 minutes and do something else to distract yourself. Move to a no-smoking area to make it less convenient for you to smoke.
• Chew something. Whether it’s gum, candy, or vegetables, chew something that will occupy your mouth as you resist your cravings.
• Don’t give in to the “just one more” mentality. Smoking once can easily lead to smoking again.
• Exercise more. Boosting your physical activity can distract you from tobacco cravings and make them less intense. Exercise can mean a lot of different things, but even short periods of physical activity can help.
• Try relaxation techniques. Techniques like deep breathing, yoga, visualization, muscle relaxation, and massage can help you relax and relieve stress.
• Reach out for support. Establishing robust support systems. Calling a friend or family member to talk on the phone or go for a walk can help remind you that you’re not alone.
• Remind yourself why you want to quit. Whether your goal is to feel better, get healthier, save money, or prepare for cancer treatment, it can help to write down or speak aloud the reason you decided to quit in the first place.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

---