【Breast Disease】 Developing breasts are vulnerable to the harm of smoking. According to a new study, girls who start smoking in their teens have a significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer as adults compared to others. Researchers point out that breast tissue is highly sensitive to carcinogenic chemicals during and around puberty when cells are rapidly growing.
Canadian researchers surveyed 2,000 women before and after menopause, including those with and without breast cancer. Among premenopausal women with children, those who started smoking within five years of their first menstruation had over a 70% higher incidence of breast cancer compared to non-smokers. For premenopausal women without children, those who smoked more than one pack per day or smoked for over 20 years faced an even greater risk of developing breast cancer.
Dr. Pierre Band of the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Vancouver said: "Our findings once again confirm the importance of not smoking, especially during puberty." During a press conference, Band indicated that this study provided evidence supporting the theory that developing breasts are more sensitive to carcinogens. Previous related studies either lacked conclusive results or were contradictory.
Band's report also suggested that smoking might have negative effects on postmenopausal women. The study showed that some older women who began smoking after their first childbirth had a lower risk of breast cancer. Researchers believe that the chemicals in tobacco may suppress estrogen production, which could influence the occurrence of breast cancer.