Breast cancer: How much risk do smokers have?

Smoking is now considered a chronic disease, which, although it registers the greatest morbidity and mortality, can be stopped with documented and scientifically proven medical treatment and therapeutic approaches. Awareness of the harmful effects of smoking, as well as awareness of the multiple and beneficial benefits of quitting smoking, are the most important factors in changing attitudes and adopting the perception of pure breath.

THE relationship between smoking and the development of neoplasms mainly lung cancer is one of the most studied and best known. But how many of the women who smoke for more than ten years know that are at 10% greater risk develop breast cancer from non-smokers?

There are not a few scientific studies showing a causal relationship between the carcinogenic components of cigarettes and specific hormone receptors in the breasts, with better prognosis and full recovery rates being higher in women who quit early or never smoked. Additionally, according to other data, women who continue to smoke while diagnosed with breast cancer may be at greater risk of developing distant metastases, which significantly burdens both the outcome of the disease and the complexity of antitumor therapy.

The process of quitting smoking is not always easy, quick and without trouble or relapses. Female smokers of all ages need to understand that they are not alone in this endeavour, but there are now specialist and trained health professionals in motivational, motivational, withdrawal and relapse prevention techniques who can help them effectively and with approved medication where deemed necessary.

I encourage all smokers to visit a Smoking Cessation Clinic in a public or private health facility and to design together with a health professional specialized in smoking cessation a personalized plan to stop smoking, offering their body the best gift of health.