Female smoking link to blood cancer
Friday August 10th, 2012
Women who smoke double their risk of developing cancers of the lymph gland and bone marrow, researchers warned today.
An
analysis of more than a million women has linked tobacco to Hodgkin's
disease - which affects the lymph system - and myeloma, which affects
the bone marrow.
Researchers said smokers also faced a slightly increased risk of developing leukaemia.
The research, published in the British Journal of Cancer, found that eight in every 1,000 smokers developed a haematological cancer, such as leukaemia, myeloma or Hodgkin lymphoma. This compared with six out of every 1,000 non-smokers.
The "million women" have been taking part in research on cancer since 1996 after taking part in the NHS breast screening programme.
Researcher Professor Valerie Beral, of Oxford University, said: “These results highlight yet again how important smoking is as a cause of cancer.
“Smoking raises the risk of many types of cancer, not just lung cancer, and also the risk of heart attack and stroke, which many people may not be aware of.”
Alcohol drinking, tobacco smoking and subtypes of haematological malignancy in the UK Million Women Study. Kroll ME et al. British Journal of Cancer August 10 2012
Tags: Cancer | Drug and Alcohol Abuse | UK News | Women’s Health & Gynaecology
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