Epidemiologic investigation of multiple primary cancer of the upper alimentary and respiratory tracts. I.A retrospective study

In a retrospective investigation of 104 patients with multiple primary tumors of the upper alimentary and respiratory tracts, the data suggest that patients who smoke heavily before developing cancer are more likely to develop second, primary tumors. Continued smoking after initial diagnosis or radiation therapy for the first primary is associated with an increased frequency of second primary tumors. Discontinuance of smoking and drinking after the first primary provides no assurance against the development of a second primary cancer.