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Smokers and former smokers are 40 per cent less likely to survive the disease ten years after diagnosis than those who have never smoked. A connection between smoking and the bodies response to melanoma, most commonly caused by exposure to the sun, has not been previously found.
The immune response of smokers appears to work, but is less effective, researchers at the University of Leeds said. This research suggests that smoking might disrupt how it works together in tune, allowing the musicians to continue playing but possibly in a more disorganised way.’The study used data from more than 700 patients with melanoma, which takes the lives of 2,000 in the UK every year, and 9,000 in the US.
The research, published in the journal Cancer Research, found that people who have smoked have a 40 per cent lower survival rate. People who had any history of smoking were found to be at greater risk of dying of melanoma – they do not have to be smokers at the time of their illness. However the researchers did not specify how many cigarettes would impact a person’s health.
Based on these findings, stopping smoking should be strongly recommended for people diagnosed with melanoma. Overall, these results show that smoking could limit the chances of melanoma patients’ survival so it’s especially important that they are given all the support possible to give up smoking for good. Scientists have reported in the past the adverse effects smoking has on the immune system, but it’s not yet known which chemicals are responsible.