Does the possibility of breast cancer frighten you? The bad news is the average woman has a one in eight chance of getting cancer of the breast over the course of her lifetime. The good news? There’s increasing evidence that lifestyle habits play an important role in lowering the risk of this disease. Studies show that factors such as avoiding alcohol and hormone replacement therapy along with eating a plant-rich, high fiber diet can make a difference in the risk of getting this common cancer. A new study now shows that another lifestyle habit – smoking – may play a role in the risk of cancer of the breast.

Smoking and Breast Cancer Risk: A Study

In this study, published in the Journal of Cancer Epidemiology, researchers found that French women who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for nine years or more increased their risk of cancer of the breast by fifty-nine percent. This same study showed that another risk factor – weight gain – also had a significant impact on breast cancer risk. Women who gained more than twenty-two pounds after the age of thirty were also at increased risk of the disease. On a positive note, this study also showed that moderate exercise reduced the risk of cancer of the breast by a little more than half.

What’s the Association?

Interestingly, the association between smoking and breast cancer risk has been difficult to prove. Most studies were done on women who were already at high risk due to genetic mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. This is one of the first studies to look at lifestyle factors such as smoking on women at normal risk of the disease. Previous studies have shown that teenagers who smoke may be at higher risk, particularly if they begin smoking within five years of starting their period. Some studies also show that women who are at high risk of cancer of the breast due to genetic mutations increase their risk by smoking cigarettes. The mechanism by which smoking elevates breast cancer risk is still unknown.

The Bottom Line

Two simple lifestyle changes – kicking the smoking habit and starting a regular exercise program – could go far towards lowering the risk of cancer of the breast. A regular exercise program helps to prevent weight gain which studies show can elevate breast cancer risk. Exercise also lowers estrogen levels – the fuel that promotes growth of some breast cancers. Even if the connection between smoking and breast cancer risk remains unproven, kicking the habits lowers the risk of lung cancer and heart disease – a definite plus.