Smokers who receive radiotherapy for breast cancer put themselves at a higher risk of lung cancer or heart attack than non-smokers, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

These findings are based on a global study conducted by the Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group. It evaluated the lung and heart radiation doses and risks among 40,781 women with breast cancer who received radiotherapy in 75 randomized trials.

Since modern breast cancer radiotherapy techniques are better at sparing the lungs and heart than those used in the trials, the researchers also reviewed recent literature.
They found that for non-smokers, the risk of death from side effects of modern radiotherapy is about .5 percent. However, for smokers the risk is about 5 percent.

For most non-smokers or former smokers, the benefits of radiotherapy outweigh the risks, but for some long-term current smokers, the risks might be greater than the benefits.

To avoid most of the lung cancer and heart disease risk from radiotherapy, the researchers recommend that patients stop smoking at the time of treatment.

"This research highlights that breast cancer patients who smoke need to be offered help and support in order to try and quit to minimize any risks from their treatment," Dr. Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK's head of health information, said in a statement.

Rad Oncology Homepage