Smoking with its various negative effects is also found to increase risk of aggressive prostate cancer and prostate cancer mortality. Consequently, Stacey A. Kenfield, of the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, in collaboration with colleagues performed a study to measure the relation of cigarette smoking with prostate cancer-specific and cardiovascular disease, mortality and biochemical recurrence among men with prostate cancer.

Effects of smoking on prostate cancer progression is biologically plausible including tumor promotion through carcinogens from tobacco smoke, increased plasma levels of testosterone, free or total, an androgen involved in the development and progression of prostate cancer in some smokers, suggested the authors.

“In summary, smoking at the time of diagnosis was associated with substantially increased overall mortality and prostate cancer mortality and recurrence. Ten-year quitters had risks similar to never smokers. These results provide further support that smoking may increase risk of death from prostate cancer”, added the authors.

Prostate cancer is second leading cause of male cancer deaths that executes around 3,300 men, every year and second most common cancer after skin cancer. To fight against the lethal disease, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) has funded a pilot support program for gay men along with their partners as an attempt to help identify their specific prostate cancer support needs.