Cancer and Tobacco

Tobacco is one of the most discussed but also an easily ignored topic. Tobacco is the leading cause of cancer and the deaths resulting from it. Estimates show that the deaths due to smoking contribute to 10 million each year worldwide, and we have 120 million smokers in our country.

Tobacco smoke has about 7000 chemicals in it of which 72 are carcinogens with the ability to cause cancer. There are two forms of tobacco.

1.       Smokeless Tobacco

This is the most common and prevalent type, especially in India. Tobacco is chewed with betel nuts, and this is considered to be the major contributing factor of the increased oral cancer in India.

Chewing tobacco with betel nuts and storing it in the mouth can cause infections, leading to oral cancer. Ingestion of this juice is also known to cause food pipe cancer.

Other forms of smokeless tobacco like paan and gutkha are also in increase. These contain chemicals that aid in the induction of OSMF and later oral cancer. Snuff which is inhaled through the nasal cavity can cause nose cancer.

2.      Smoke Tobacco (Cigarettes)

Nicotine is a substance that is present in the tobacco which makes it addictive for the user. With cigarettes the nicotine enters the bloodstream through the lungs and with smokeless tobacco it reaches through gums and digestive system.

Also Read: What you eat can help you fight cancer

Smoking can cause lung cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, and many more cancers. Smoking can also lead to the onset of other problems like heart diseases, sexual-related problems and such.

Passive Smoking: Most of us assume ourselves to be safe given we don’t smoke. But as mentioned before, tobacco smoke contains carcinogens, and regular exposure to the smoke while the other person is smoking can also cause cancer. Thus you must avoid tobacco on the whole and stay away from exposure.

Treatment

Cancer can be treated and even cured if diagnosed in the early stages. Thus if you have smoking problem meet a cancer specialist who can help you with the early diagnosis and oral cancer treatment or any cancer-related problems.

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