Daily HealthBeat Tip

Cigarette smoke and breast cancer

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ray Sass with HHS HealthBeat.

Researchers offer women smokers yet another reason to kick the habit.

A study examined the effect of chemicals in cigarette smoke on normal breast cells. It found that these chemicals can damage DNA in the cells and block their ability to self-repair, which can lead to tumor development.

Dr. Satya Narayan of the University of Florida says this risk may be especially high in smokers who start in their teens. He says that cigarette tar contains some 4,000 chemicals, dozens of which are linked to cancer development and several other serious health problems.

"The best thing for us is to avoid any harmful effect to the cells so that the cell can manage its normal function." (Eight seconds)

That means not smoking.

The study in Oncogene was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ray Sass.

Last revised: November 7, 2006

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