The study, published in the l Journal of the American Medical Association. 17 Dec. issue, reveals that smokers have almost 18% higher risk of getting that cancer and 25% increased risk of death from the disease.

Edoardo Botteri, the lead author of the study, says: “There is a significant link between smoking and the occurrence of colorectal cancer and related deaths.”

“Smokers must keep in mind that it not only increases their risk of developing the cancers of the organs that have direct tobacco exposure including lungs, larynx and digestive tract of upper area, but it also increases the risk of developing cancers in those organs that don’t have a direct tobacco contact like kidney, bladder, pancreas, rectum and colon,” he added.

To find a link between smoking and colorectal cancer, the researchers examined the data received from 106 reviewed studies that had different number of participants ranging from few hundred to 1 million.

Looking at the collective risk, the researchers found that smokers had an 18% increase risk of developing colorectal cancer.