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Pink Pack: Smoking and breast cancer

Reported by Frances Weller - bio|email
Posted by Debra Worley - email

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - New research concludes that after years of studies, there is finally evidence that cigarette smoke increases the risk of breast cancer - sometimes many years after the fact.

The researchers conducted a meta-analysis that looked at various studies and thousands of patients over the years.

The analysis shows that the risk of breast cancer was 60 percent higher in women who had smoked for 40 years or longer.

Among those who smoked 20 cigarettes or more a day for 40 years, the increase risk rose to 83 percent.

"Young women - if they're exposed to other people's smoke or if they smoke, increase their risk of breast cancer of the order of at least 50%," said University of Toronto Dr. Anthony Miller. "If not more and we feel that's very important because a lot of people think you can do nothing to prevent breast cancer. in fact you can do a great deal to prevent breast cancer."

Studies continue to show that girls are more likely to smoke than boys their age.

If you would like a Pink Pack that shows you how to do a self breast exam, click here.

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