Smoking raises Odds for Breast Cancer in women at high risk

Researchers have analyzed how smoking, drinking and physical activity affected the risk of several common cancers in the 13,388 women at increased risk of breast cancer due to family history of breast cancer, age and other factors. Women participated in the U.S. National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and bowel (NSABP) Breast Cancer Prevention Trial project.

Those who have never smoked, women who smoke at least 35 years had 60% greater risk of invasive breast cancer and more than four times the risk of colon cancer, the researchers found.

Women who smoke during 15 to 35 years were 34 percent more likely to develop invasive breast cancer and 7 per cent more likely to develop a colon cancer than those who have never smoked.

Smokers to less than 15 years have had no increased risk of invasive breast cancer, according to the report.

To those who have never smoked, women who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for more than 35 years were 30 times more likely to develop lung cancer, while the risk was 13 times higher for those who have smoked less than a pack a day more than 35 years.

Alcohol consumption was not associated with increased risk of cancer, but researchers have concluded that the low levels of physical activity were associated increased risk of 70% of endometrial cancer. It may be because women are more likely to be obese, a risk factor for endometrial cancer.

The study was posted online before its presentation on 6 June at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, in Chicago.

"The NSABP study was the first large prospective study to examine the impact of smoking among women at high risk of breast cancer," said study author Stephanie Land, an associate professor of research in the Department of Biostatistics at University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

"Our results show an increase in still more risk that has been shown in previous studies, which suggests that women who are at risk of cancer of the breast of the family history or other factors.", smoking cigarettes is even more risky than other women "Land, said in a release ASCO."

"It sends a very important message for women with a family history of breast cancer on the long-term risks of smoking, and the importance of staying physically active." We note once more that the cessation is one of the most effective tools to reduce the risk of many cancers, ", she added."