The researchers identified 2,548 patients with invasive nonmetastic colorectal cancer and determined their smoking habits. The authors found that patients who smoked had nearly double risk for colorectal cancer-specific mortality and double the risk for overall mortality, according to the report.
The authors concluded smoking:
• Leads to more aggressive tumors
• Lessens the efficacy of colorectal cancer treatments
Though the researchers found a clear association, they suggested further study is needed to determine how smoking affects the course of the disease, according to the report.
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