Jan 28, 2006

Passive Smoking, Breast Cancer Link

We have discussed the link between passive smoking and risk of breast cancer in this blog earlier. Now there is legal backing for this argument.

Regulators in California have recently ruled that secondhand smoke increases the risk for breast cancer in younger women. This is an unprecedented finding that could lead to tougher anti-smoking measures.

This ruling was approved by the state's Air Resources Board, which is well known nationally for its tough stance on limiting auto and diesel pollution. The board has unanimously approved a 1,200-page report from California Environmental Protection Agency scientists report citing that secondhand smoke increases the risk of breast cancer in younger women. The agency's findings challenged conventional scientific community which until recently considered the link between female smoking and breast cancer is based on scanty evidence.

"I think that if we don't embrace these new conclusions, we're doing a disservice to younger women," says Andrew Hyland, a research scientist at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. "My prediction is that in the months to come, people will see the evidence and change their opinion."

By accepting the environmental protection agencies finding, the Air Resources Board officially lists secondhand smoke as a "toxic air contaminant" under state law. That begins a process that could lead to new restrictions in the state that already has the nation's toughest anti-smoking rules. Those could include reducing exposure in vehicles carrying children or in rental buildings where smoke drifts from apartments with smokers to non-smokers' units.


Sherin      

Do You Read All Of Our Cancer Blogs?

Do you read all of the blogs published by medicineworld.org? Many of our bloggers are busy keeping you updated on the various health related topics. We publish the following blogs at this time.

Cancer blog: I manage the cancer blog with lots of help and support form other bloggers. Through this cancer blog my friends and I try to bring stories of hope for patients with cancer. The cancer blog often republishes important blog posts from other cancer related blogs at Medicineworld.org. If you are searching for a blog that covers wide variety of cancer topics, this may be the one for you.

Breast cancer blog: Breast cancer blog is run by Emily and other bloggers and they bring you the latest stories, news and events that are related to breast cancer. Increasing awareness about breast cancer among women and in the general population is the main goal of this breast cancer blog.

Lung cancer blog: Lung cancer blog is managed by Scott with the help of other bloggers. Through this blog Scott and his friends constantly remind the readers about the dangers of smoking. It's a never-ending struggle against this miserable disease with which a social stigma of smoking is associated.

Colon cancer blog: Colon cancer blog is run by Sue and other bloggers. Sue brings a personal touch to the colon cancer blog since her mother died of colon cancer few years ago. She writes about stories, research news and advances in treatment related to colon cancer.

Prostate cancer blog: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men. American Cancer Society estimates that over 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer occur in the United state every year. This important blog about prostate cancer is run by Mark and other bloggers. This blog brings news, stories, and other personal observations related to prostate cancer.

Medicineworld.org publishes a diabetes watch blog and this blog is run by JoAnn other bloggers. This diabetes watch blog brings you the latest in the field of diabetes. This includes personal stories, advances in diagnosis and treatment, and other observations about diabetes. Improving awareness about diabetes is an important mission of this group.

Janet      

Breast cancer
Every year, more than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. Breast cancer ranks second as the leading cause of cancer deaths in American women. Until recently breast cancer topped the list of leading causes of cancer deaths in women, but lately lung cancer has claimed the top position. If skin cancer is excluded, breast cancer is the commonest cancer among American women.