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Department of Radiation Oncology

Smoking Teens: Lung Cancer

Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer. Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer for both men and women. It is difficult to diagnose early and often spreads to other parts of the body before it is detected.

Radiation Exposure

Smoking 1-1/2 packs of cigarettes a day exposes the lining of the lung to 16,000 mrem/year of radiation from Lead-210 and Polonium-210 found in tobacco leaves. This is equivalent to 1600 chest x-rays a year.