Smokeless Tobacco is not Without Risks
07/26/00
There may be a link between smokeless tobacco and breast cancer, according to preliminary research done at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Investigators studied Cherokee women 18 and older who live on tribal lands in western North Carolina and use smokeless tobacco. They found that these women have eight times the normal risk of developing breast cancer. Researchers say they have tracked smokeless tobacco use in North Carolina for several years and report high use in the area--especially among Native American women.
These preliminary results are the first of their kind and suggest smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking. Because of the small sample, researchers say they will rely on continued research to confirm their results.
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