Fact check: Does Smoking cause cancee

1. Summary of the results

The scientific evidence definitively establishes that smoking causes cancer. Specifically:

• Tobacco smoking is the leading risk factor for lung cancer, responsible for approximately 25% of all cancer deaths globally ^[1]
• Smoking has been proven to cause at least 16 different types of cancer ^[2]
• Nearly 90% of lung cancer deaths are attributed to smoking or secondhand smoke exposure ^[3]
• Smokers increase their risk of developing lung cancer by approximately 25 times compared to non-smokers ^[4]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial pieces of context are missing from the original question:

• Cigarette smoke contains over 5,000 chemicals, with at least 70 known carcinogens that directly damage DNA ^[2]
• The impact varies by region, with higher cancer death rates in wealthier countries ^[1]
• Cancer incidence and mortality rates in different countries closely mirror their historical smoking patterns ^[5]
• Smoking causes approximately one-third of all cancer deaths in the United States ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question's simplistic framing could lead to several misconceptions:

• It fails to acknowledge the multiple types of cancer caused by smoking, not just lung cancer ^[2]
• It doesn't address the impact of secondhand smoke, which is also a significant cancer risk factor ^[3]
• The question overlooks the fact that smoking's cancer risk is quantifiable and well-documented through decades of research ^{[1] [5]}

*Note: While tobacco companies have historically benefited from downplaying these risks, the scientific consensus on smoking's carcinogenic effects is overwhelming and supported by extensive research.*