Study Finds Link Between Cigartette Smoking and Prostate Cancer

A new study has found evidence linking cigarette smoking with increased risk of both developing and dying of prostate cancer.

The study pooled the data from 24 previous studies and then analyzed the results to detect the association. Once pooled, the study had information on over 21,000 men. This type of study is known as a meta-analysis.

The data showed that the heaviest smokers had a nearly 30% increased chance of dying from prostate cancer as nonsmokers. The increased risk of prostate cancer persisted for lighter smokers as well.

The study, to be published in the American Journal of Public Health, was conducted by the Meta-Analysis Research Group in Columbia, South Carolina.