While the link between smoking and various forms of cancer has long been established, the Medical University of Vienna along with the University Hospital of Basel found clear links in a new study published in the journal European Urology.
It said that following removal of the prostate gland due to prostate cancer, the risk for a recurrence (known as a biochemical recurrence) of the cancer for both smokers and former smokers doubles.
The data were gathered from six international cancer research centers, covering 7,191 patients who had their prostate glands removed between 2001 and 2011.
The researchers say the link between smoking and the actual development of the cancer is, however, still unclear, with older studies showing a clear association but newer studies the opposite.
Shahrokh F. Shariat, principal of the University Clinic of Urology at the Medical University of Vienna, said the study findings "underline the importance of informing a prostate cancer patient about the negative effects of smoking."
By Ruchi Singh
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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