What percentage of smokers develop lung cancer?

What percentage of smokers develop lung cancer?

Jay M. Lee (Surgical Director, Thoracic Oncology Program, UCLA) gives expert video advice on: Does the age I started smoking affect the odds I will develop lung cancer?; Does the amount I smoke affect your odds of developing lung cancer?; Why do people who never smoke develop lung cancer? and more...

About 10% to 15% of individuals who smoke will actually develop lung cancer. And although the other 85% don't develop lung cancer, it's important to understand that smoking causes other cancers and these would include cancers in the oral cavity, or in the opening in the airway itself called the larynx, pharyngeal cancers and oesophageal cancers. Not only that, smoking also impacts on heart disease, stroke and chronic lung disease. So yes, only 10% to 15% of individuals actually develop lung cancer, but there are multiple other co morbidities and health related problems that smoking will cause.