Secondhand smoke can lead to breast cancer! The risk begins in childhood.

Prof. Dr. Köksal stated, "Exposure to cigarette smoke, especially during pre-puberty and adolescence, can cause DNA damage in developing breast tissue. This damage forms the basis for cellular changes that can develop into cancer years later." He added the following regarding children exposed to smoke: "The study showed that secondhand smoke, not only in adulthood but also in childhood, can increase the risk of breast cancer in later years. It was particularly emphasized that children whose parents smoke are at higher risk later in life."

ONE IN EVERY 8 WOMEN ENCOUNTERS IT AT SOME MOMENT IN THEIR LIFE

Reminding that breast cancer, which poses a significant health threat to women, is so prevalent that it can affect one in eight women throughout their lifetime, Prof. Dr. Neşet Köksal said, “Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide . According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) GLOBOCAN 2020 data, 2.3 million women worldwide were newly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 alone. In the same year, 685,000 women lost their lives to breast cancer.”

Reminding that breast cancer accounts for approximately 24 percent of all cancer cases in women in our country, Prof. Dr. Köksal said, "Approximately 20,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Türkiye. Although the incidence increases after age 50, we are also seeing breast cancer in women in their 30s, especially in recent years. Therefore, this situation highlights the need to raise awareness among younger women, as well as older women."