Breast cancer patients smoking after radiotherapy increase lung cancer risk UK study

Breast cancer patients who smoke are at a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer after radiotherapy, with risks ranging from 2% to 6%.

Radiotherapy is highly effective in treating breast cancer, but patients must be aware of the long-term risks of secondary cancers that may arise, particularly if they continue smoking.

The study indicates that non-smokers have less than a 1% chance of radiotherapy leading to lung cancer, underscoring the importance of quitting smoking.

Carolyn Taylor, from the University of Oxford, stated that while radiotherapy reduces recurrence of breast cancer, the potential long-term side effects should not be overlooked.

Read at www.theguardian.com