Women more vulnerable to colorectal cancer risk of tobacco

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Women who smoke are more vulnerable than male smokers to an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
Women who smoke are more vulnerable than male smokers to an increased risk of colorectal cancer. We already know that smoking and drinking alcohol can increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Now researchers at Evanston Northwestern Health Care produce further evidence on how these risk factors affect women.

They looked at a large database covering patients in 350 hospitals and found that age of onset of colorectal cancer is somewhat younger among men than among women in the non-smoking non-drinking group. Among current smokers, both men and women had a significantly lower age of presentation for colorectal cancer, compared to those who didn't drink or smoke. Alcohol use, too, was linked to a younger age of developing the cancer. When men were compared to women, it was found that women were more sensitive to tobacco as a risk factor for colorectal cancer. It's a risk worth emphasising when supporting people giving up smoking. While many associate lung cancer with smoking, the risk of colorectal cancer is perhaps not as well known.

Source
American College of Gastroenterology meeting 31st October 2005

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