Sources: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, online edition, May 1, 2013; American Association for Cancer Research
RESEARCHERS at the University of Tromsø in Norway have concluded that women who smoke have a higher risk of cancer than men, Norwegian investigators found. Looking at the medical records of more than 600,000 patients between ages 16 and 67, they discovered the bowel cancer risk linked to smoking was twice as high in women than men. Female smokers had a 19% increased risk of bowel cancer while male smokers had a 9% increased risk, reports.
In the study, nearly 4,000 of the participants developed bowel cancer. Women who started smoking when they were 16 or younger and those who had smoked for decades were at substantially increased risk of bowel cancer. The findings clearly suggest that women may be biologically more vulnerable to the toxic effects of tobacco smoke.
Previous studies have shown that women who smoke are at an increases risk for heart attack as compared to men who smoke, althouth it is not clear why. According to research in more than one million women, those who give up smoking by the age of 30 will almost completely avoid the risks of dying early from tobacco-related diseases.
Sarah Williams of Cancer Research UK said: “It’s well established that smoking causes at least 14 different types of cancer, including bowel cancer. “For men and women, the evidence is clear – being a non-smoker means you’re less likely to develop cancer, heart disease, lung disease and many other serious illnesses.” Clearly this goes double for women smokers.
The Lewis Law Firm has a history of representing women who are diagnosed with cancer. If you are in Philadelphia or New Jersey and you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer contact the Lewis Law firm today for a FREE consultation.