Smoking Cigarettes Increases Risk of Breast Cancer

In a new study published this week, authors followed 111,140 active smokers of the Nurses Health Study for 30 years and 36,017 participants exposed to passive smoke for 24 years and concluded that, as expected, active smoking as denoted by number of years smoked (both current & past), number of pack-years smoked, younger age at smoking initiation, and premenopausal smoking were all associated with an increase risk of breast cancer.  The good news is that passive smoking was not associated with development of breast cancer. 

Last month, I discussed the Surgeon General's statement that smoking even one cigarette can kill you.  We've known for years that smoking increases one's risk for lung cancer, emphysema, heart attacks & strokes.  Now we've just uncovered a link w/breast cancer.  Do you really need another reason to quit?

Or better yet, never start!  Our Nevada Academy of Family Physicians Foundation sponsors & supports Tar Wars, our outreach & tobacco-free education program for our fourth & fifth graders.  So come out & help fund our Foundation by attending one of our wine tastings & silent auctions (August 5th in Las Vegas and August 26th in Reno).