The Tit Offensive

Second-Hand Smoke Linked to Breast Cancer in Premenopausal Women

Researchers from the Public Health Agency of Canada, reported in the May 31, 2005 online issue of the International Journal of Cancer that long-term exposure to second-hand smoke may increase the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women. In an analysis of data from 20 published studies examining the relationship of passive smoking to breast cancer, investigators found a 27% increase in breast cancer risk among non-smoking women who experienced long-term exposure to second-hand smoke, for all studies combined. While several factors differentiated the study outcomes, the quality of the second-hand smoke measures accounted for the greatest variation between studies, with studies that collected quantitative long-term information finding the strongest link between passive smoking and breast cancer. The authors found that, in the five studies with the most complete exposure measures, the breast cancer risk increased by 90%. (Medical News Today, 6/3/05) Via the Young Survival Coalition.