Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer - Essay Example

            Yarbro et al. stated in their writings that as of 2008, there were more than 12 million people who had been diagnosed with cancer and there had been more than 7 million deaths reported worldwide, which were attributed to cancer. The leading killing cancers include lung cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer (901-995).

The case of my uncle

            Back in the year 2011, the younger brother of my father was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 35 years. Because of his young age, it could have come as a surprise to many people who did not know him well more his about lifestyle. This is because many people assume that most cases of cancer are caused by old age and in fact, Scott wrote that nearly 75% of us would suffer from cancer if we live long enough (112). However, for those of us who knew my uncle well, the diagnosis was not a shocker because he had been smoking ever since he was 15 years and therefore, he was exposed to the leading cause of cancer for two decades before he was finally diagnosed.

            Even though lung cancer is caused by different factors such as genetics and inhalation of toxic gases,  my uncle’s cancer was purely attributed to his smoking pattern of which it reach the extent that he could smoke more than 1 packet of cigarette on a daily basis. This assumption was confirmed by the autopsy report that was released after he died approximately 10 months after being diagnosed with lung cancer.