Recent Blog Articles

Close relationships with neighbors influence cardiovascular health in Black adults

Why play? Early games build bonds and brain

5 numbers linked to ideal heart health

Rating the drugs in drug ads

Postpartum anxiety is invisible, but common and treatable

The popularity of microdosing of psychedelics: What does the science say?

Pouring from an empty cup? Three ways to refill emotionally

Is pregnancy safe for everyone?

New pediatric guidelines on obesity in children and teens

Screening tests may save lives — so when is it time to stop?
Men's Health
Smoking may increase risk of prostate cancer recurrence
- By Harvard Prostate Knowledge
Smokers who have had prostate cancer surgery may want to think twice about lighting up. In addition to raising the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and other health problems, smoking increases the likelihood that prostate cancer will recur following a radical prostatectomy, according to a study presented at the American Urological Association (AUA) annual meeting in May 2011.
Researchers followed 321 current smokers and 309 nonsmokers who had their prostate cancer treated with surgery between 1989 and 2005. Compared to nonsmokers, men who smoked were more likely to experience a rise in their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, a sign that cancer has returned; levels rose about 1% per pack-year smoked. (Smoking a pack of cigarettes every day for a year constitutes a pack-year; two packs a day for a year equals two pack-years.) Men who smoked 20 pack-years or more had the highest risk of recurrence. Also, recurrent cancers were larger and more aggressive in smokers than in nonsmokers.
“These data indicate that smoking history could provide valuable insight and should be included in risk-assessment models for prostate cancer,” said Dr. Joseph C. Presti, who presented the study’s findings.
Source: Ngo T, Lee J, Brooks J, et al. Smoking and Adverse Outcomes at Radical Prostatectomy. American Urological Association 2011 Annual Meeting; abstract 459.
Published June 10, 2011.
About the Author
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Free Healthbeat Signup
Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!