24 August 2010 - The NZ Herald (the findings are published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute)
Nicotine in cigarettes has been linked to breast cancer for the first time as researchers find the substance may promote the growth of tumours.
Nicotine is the chemical in cigarettes which causes addiction and has now been linked to the development of breast cancer.
Previously smoking was not thought to be a major cause of breast cancer although it is known to increase the risk of several other forms of the disease.
Researchers at Taipei Medical University examined 276 samples from human breast cancer tumours and found the cells had large numbers of receptors which nicotine was able to attach to when compared with normal cells.
