Smoke Screen

Pointing out that tobacco addiction is rampant in India,particularly among young adults,Pune-based Oncologist Dr Shona Nag says,“World No Tobacco Day brings an excellent opportunity to spread awareness about the health hazards of tobacco and second hand smoking. At the same time,it also highlights the importance of increasing vigilance around lung and oral cancer and their symptoms.” Nag adds that in India,lung cancer is often diagnosed as tuberculosis as symptoms are similar. “Precious time is then lost by treating the patient for tuberculosis for several months before realising it is actually lung cancer. Apart from direct smoking,passive smoking,too,contributes a lot to lung cancer,” she adds.

Doctors explain that passive smoking is all about the exposure to second hand smoke by being in close vicinity of another person smoking. Studies show that exposure to passive smoke in the house during childhood can significantly increase the risk of developing lung cancer when the child grows up. Besides,any closed quarters where non-smokers are exposed to passive smoking by others also increases this risk.

“As is evident,both lung cancer and mouth cancer are man-made diseases. They are best prevented rather than treated and this calls for motivating people to quit tobacco and strictly impose bans on public smoking,” says Dr Nag. Admitting that those making an effort to quit tobacco face difficulties,she adds,“There is ample help available for those willing to quit. Most hospitals have a chest or ENT department with consultants who will assist in examining and counselling. A psychologist’s help is also required. There are also many physical aids available to give up tobacco and those include nicotine substitutes and tablets which assist in de-addiction.”

Doctors in the city also draw attention to the effects of chewing tobacco,which is often ignored. They point out that 30 per cent of the world’s oral cancer cases — including cancer of tongue,cheek,lip and throat — are found in the country. This is so because the use of paan,supari and gutka is a cultural and social habit in India. “Again,the emphasis needs to be on prevention rather than treatment. The treatment of oral cancer often involves mutilating surgeries where the tongue,cheek and the voice box need to be removed. A much easier way out is to simply stop chewing or smoking tobacco,” says Dr Nag.