Breast Cancer is Accelerated by Nicotine

The fatal effect that nicotine has on human bodiesbe potentially more harmful on women.
has been well documented. It may be especiallyIn vivo and in vitro studies seem to indicate that
injurious to women, however, because it seems towhile nicotine may not be a conventional carcinogen,
aid the spread of breast cancer tumors to otherwhen it combines with certain other cellular elements
parts of the body.within the body, it proves fertile ground to enable the
The harmful effects of this lethal component indevelopment of tumors.
tobacco have already received considerable attentionMetastasis may not occur just by the administration
by researchers. All types of cancers including thoseof nicotine. However nicotine does potentiate growth
of lungs, neck, head and prostrate have beenrelated processes which obviously includes metastasis
extensively studied and their relationship with nicotineor rapid spreading of cancer cells to other parts of
has been analyzed extensively.the body.
Adding to this body of knowledge is the recentNicotine was traditionally believed to trigger or excite
study conducted on how nicotine is related to Breastonly the human nervous system, but the recent
Cancer. The study may open new avenues for antistudy shows evidence that the substance can trigger
cancer drug research.even non-neuronal cells, specifically cancer cells.
It also augments the already existing research onNicotine is shown to promote intracellular signaling in
how the things that human beings ingest causelung cancer.
harmful effects; in this case how it can cause breastNicotine is attracted to some special nicotine
cancer or worsen the already existing condition.receptors found in the epithelium-like cells of the
Whether nicotine is absorbed first hand by smokingbreasts, and bind to them. It then stimulates the cells
cigarettes or by inhaling second hand smoke, theto grow out of control which then causes cancer.
effects are the same. A woman who does notOnce the cells turn cancerous and start rapidly
smoke may be putting herself at the same level ofmultiplying, the receptors also direct them to migrate
danger as her smoking companions just by beingto other parts of the body causing the cancer to
around them when they smoke.spread. Nicotine cannot accomplish this by itself, and
In addition to getting a person addicted to theother than the nicotine receptors in the breast cells,
substance, nicotine also has other harmful effects. Itfactors that assist nicotine in cancer needs to be
seems to affect women differently and is seen toexplored further.