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WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2003 -- For women
undergoing treatment for early breast cancer, those who smoke are more
than twice as likely to die than non-smokers or those who quit, according
to a new study presented in Salt Lake City today at the Annual Meeting of
the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.
The study, the first to examine the
effect of smoking on long-term outcomes of breast cancer patients treated
with conservative surgery and radiation, finds that women who continue to
smoke during therapy are 2.5 times more likely to die from the cancer than
are women with no smoking history. But if women stop smoking before
treatment, their risks of dying are the same as women who never smoked.
"While smoking is a putative risk
factor for developing breast cancer, its impact on treatment results has
been uncertain," said lead author Khanh H. Nguyen, M.D., a radiation
oncologist at Philadelphia's Fox Chase Cancer Center.
"Our findings suggest that women
undergoing breast cancer therapy should consider smoking cessation to
improve their chance of survival. Physicians and support staff should
encourage and assist patients in this challenging ordeal."
The study examined 1,039 non-smokers and
861 smokers from March 1970 to December 2002 who underwent conservation
therapy for breast cancer. The median follow-up of the patients was 65
months. Local control, distant metastases, deaths from breast cancer and
overall survival were compared. Univariate analysis was performed
comparing outcomes of "any smokers," "current smokers"
and "non-smokers."
"Even after we adjusted for
different prognostic factors, those who continued to smoke during
treatment did not live as long as those who had stopped," said Dr.
Nguyen. "Our study suggests that smoking cessation remains an
integral component in the comprehensive management of breast cancer."
If you would like a copy of the abstract
"Smoking Cessation Confers Survival Advantage for Breast Cancer
Patients Treated with Conservative Surgery and Radiation" or you
would like to speak to the senior author of the study, Khahn Nguyen, M.D.,
please call Beth Bukata after October 18 in the ASTRO Press Room at the
Salt Palace Convention Center at 801-534-4743 or e-mail her at bethb@astro.org.
The American Society for Therapeutic
Radiology and Oncology is the largest radiation oncology society in the
world, with 7000 members who specialize in treating patients with
radiation therapies. As a leading organization in radiation oncology,
biology and physics, the Society's mission is to advance the practice of
radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing
opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting
research and disseminating research results and representing radiation
oncology in a rapidly evolving socioeconomic healthcare environment. |
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