Q: I smoke. Am I at risk for breast cancer?

Ask Our Expert About Smoking and Breast Cancer

About Our Expert

Eliot L. Friedman, M.D., is a hematologist/oncologist with Hematology-Oncology Associates, Inc.

• Q: I smoke. Am I at risk for breast cancer?
• Q: But smoke only goes into your lungs. How can it cause breast cancer?
• Q: I don't smoke, but I've been around smokers my whole life. Does this matter?
• Q: I've been smoking for years, what can I do to reduce my risk of developing breast cancer?
• Q: Do you offer any services to help me quit?

Q: I smoke. Am I at risk for breast cancer?

A: Yes, studies show that smoking increases your risk of developing breast and other cancers including leukemia, and cancers of the liver, stomach, pancreas and cervix.

Q: But smoke only goes into your lungs. How can it cause breast cancer?

A: All the additives and chemicals found in tobacco are absorbed into the body through the lungs. Some of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, and can stay in your body for years. These chemicals accumulate in your system over time, including in breast fluid. What researchers found was that the amount of years someone smoked directly relates to the likelihood of developing breast cancer.

For instance, if a woman smoked a pack-and-a-half of cigarettes a day for 40 years, her chances of developing breast cancer are 60 percent. The good news is that quitting today will dramatically reduce your chances of developing breast cancer.

Q: I don't smoke, but I've been around smokers my whole life. Does this matter?

A: Unfortunately, it does. Recent studies were conducted on women exposed to secondhand smoke, and they, too, had an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Women exposed to cigarette smoke for one hour per day for 12 consecutive months nearly tripled their risk.

Q: I've been smoking for years, what can I do to reduce my risk of developing breast cancer?

A: The bottom line: smoking is bad for you. If you stop smoking, your risk for a number of diseases will drop significantly.

Q: Do you offer any services to help me quit?

A: Yes. Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network has a tobacco treatment program that's available to anyone, and might be reimbursable through your insurance. To find out how to enroll in the program or get more information about quitting, call 610-402-CARE.

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