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High Red Meat, Smoking Linked to Rising Breast Cancer Risk

3/3/2026

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Summary

Story summary

A study in Lancet Oncology finds that high red meat intake and smoking cause over a quarter of healthy years lost to breast cancer.
The analysis uses data from 1990–2023 across 200+ countries to project cases will rise from 2.3 million in 2023 to over 3.5 million by 2050.
High red meat accounts for 11% of healthy life lost, suggesting prevention through lifestyle changes could reduce risk.

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Story summary

A study in Lancet Oncology finds that high red meat intake and smoking cause over a quarter of healthy years lost to breast cancer.
The analysis uses data from 1990–2023 across 200+ countries to project cases will rise from 2.3 million in 2023 to over 3.5 million by 2050.
High red meat accounts for 11% of healthy life lost, suggesting prevention through lifestyle changes could reduce risk.