Smoking and breast cancer: link, effects and more
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Smoking is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in some people.
The exact cause of breast cancer is unknown, but certain risk factors increase the likelihood that a person will develop breast cancer.
A person cannot change some breast cancers risk factors like genetics or age, but they can change others, like smoking.
Keep reading to learn more about the link between exposure to cigarette smoke and breast cancer, how smoking affects breast cancer treatment, and more.
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- women who started smoking in their teens or 17 years old
- women who started smoking before or around their first period
- women who started smoking 1 to 4 years after their first period
- women with a family history of breast cancer who have smoked at any time in their life
- women of childbearing age who are BRCA2 mutation carriers
- women who have smoked for at least 10 years
- women who have quit smoking for less than 20 years
- women who smoked more than 5 years before their first full term pregnancy
- women who smoked more than five cigarettes per day
According to
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In 2019, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published that approximately
WHO states that
Additional statistics from a 2017 study published in
- Women who smoked at some point in their life were 14% more likely to develop breast cancer than those who had never smoked.
- Women who started smoking before the age of 17 had a 24% increased risk, while those who started smoking between the ages of 17 and 19 had a 15% increased rate of breast cancer.
- Smoking for more than 10 years increased the risk of developing breast cancer by 21%, while those who smoked for more than 30 years have a slightly higher risk (22%).
- Among women who quit smoking, there was still a 28% increase in the risk of developing breast cancer for those who had quit for less than 10 years.
- For women with a family history of breast cancer, their risk of breast cancer was highest if they started smoking before the age of 20 (56%).
By a 2017 study, smoking is associated with the breast cancer subtype
Treatments for breast cancer include:
Smoking can increase the complications of breast cancer treatment.
According to a 2020 review, smoking during radiation therapy can cause complications, including:
- poorer response to treatment
- lower 2-year survival rates
- cancer recurrence
- a possible increase in cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or congestive heart failure
The study mentions that people who smoke are still at higher risk of major complications, such as difficulty healing after surgery and after breast reconstruction, even if they have not received radiation therapy.
Nicotine is the addictive ingredient in tobacco products. It does not cause cancer on its own. However, a
Since cannabis smoke contains ingredients similar to tobacco, smoking cannabis can be a risk factor for developing lung cancer.
However, a
The review authors note that due to the lack of evidence linking cannabis smoking to other cancers, larger-scale studies are needed.
Secondhand smoke, also known as second-hand smoke, is the combination of the smoke from the hot end of a cigarette and the smoke that people breathe out.
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Doctors have long suspected a link between smoking and breast cancer risk, but advocacy group says
Smoking is harmful and there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing many smoking-related diseases, such as breast cancer.
Most people quit smoking using a combination of medication and behavioral changes.
Here are some tips for quitting smoking:
- Discuss smoking cessation medications with a doctor.
- Set a date to quit smoking.
- Start an exercise or walking program.
- Try acupuncture.
- Practice mindfulness meditation.
- Avoid smoking triggers.
- Try an app to quit smoking.
- Find a friend who also wants to quit smoking.
- Use a telephone stop line such as 800-QUIT-NOW (800-448-7848).
- Contact smoking cessation assistance programs, such as those offered by the
American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association.
Find more tips for quitting smoking here.
Research shows that smoking is associated with
Smoking is a major health problem and one of the few
People who do not smoke should avoid starting. For people who smoke, there are many programs available to help quit smoking.