Smoking habit affects both men and women
Recent study results show the risk of colon cancer is increased by cigarette use, and smoking may have a greater effect on female smokers’ colon cancer risk compared to male smokers.
In a study involving more than 600,000 men and women, Inger Torhild Gram, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Community Medicine at the University of Tromsø, Norway, and colleagues assessed the link between cigarette use and colon cancer risk. Participants received a health exam and answered questions regarding smoking habits, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors.
Compared with those who never smoked cigarettes, the researchers discovered that female smokers experienced a 19% increased colon cancer risk and male smokers an 8% increased risk. Moreover, the risk increased by about 50% among those women who had smoked for 40-plus years or who began smoking at age 16 or younger.
The study is published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Source: AACR.