A
panel of international medical experts has found a link between exposure to
second-hand smoke and breast cancer in pre-menopausal women.
Meanwhile, other research presented on Wednesday suggests that women could
"virtually eradicate" their risk of developing breast cancer by raising the
levels of vitamin D they have in their blood.
A panel of doctors and researchers from medical schools and public-health
agencies in the United States and Canada said that in addition to the link to
second-hand smoke exposure, it found conclusive scientific evidence linking
active smoking to breast cancer in women of all ages.
In light of the findings, warnings about breast-cancer risks should be included
in the new set of healthwarning labels being developed by Health Canada, said
Cynthia Callard, executive director of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada.
The group of doctors has called on health advocates and delegates at the latest
National Conference on Tobacco or Health, which wrapped up earlier this week in
Montreal, to support the inclusion of breast-cancer warnings on tobacco
products.
"It is imperative that young women know that any exposure to tobacco smoke,
whether through active smoking or passive inhalation, increases their risk of
developing breast cancer," Callard said in a news release.
"Given that breast cancer affects the lives of so many women, Health Canada
needs to include this risk factor in their new set of healthwarning labels so
that smokers are deterred from smoking and exposing women unnecessarily to this
deadly disease."
The Ontario Tobacco Research Unit is a network that conducts tobacco-control
research, monitoring and evaluation.
Statistics from the Breast Cancer Society of Canada indicate that one in every
nine women is expected to develop breast cancer over the course of her life. Of
that group, one in 28 will not survive.
Nearly 23,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in Canada in
2009, the society says.
But it appears that getting more vitamin D could significantly decrease women's
risk of developing breast cancer in the first place.
Vitamin D researcher Dr. Cedric Garland made a presentation Wednesday to
delegates at the University of Toronto School of Medicine's Diagnosis and
Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency conference.
The research indicates cells in the body have vitamin D receptors that help
control normal cell growth and that low vitamin D levels compromise the
integrity of calcium-based cellular bonding within tissues, which allows rogue
cancer cells to spread more quickly.
Research from the University of Calgary says 97 per cent of Canadians are
vitamin D-deficient at least once over the course of a year, mostly due to the
country's northern location and limited exposure to the sun.
Canadian women can raise their vitamin D levels by getting more sun, eating
salmon, drinking fortified milk and taking supplements.
Vitamin D researchers recommend getting 2,000 international units of vitamin D
daily and getting blood levels checked by a doctor.
Source : The Edmonton Journal
