Tobacco and Cancer: Insights from the Perspective of Cancer Specialists.

Did you know, India witnesses over 1.35 million deaths every year by consumption of tobacco accounting for the death of 1 in 10 adults?

Use of tobacco and associated products is considered to be a major threat to public health. It has assumed the dimension of an epidemic resulting in enormous disability, disease and death.

Tobacco gained a royal entry into India as a barter commodity to trade Indian textiles by the Portuguese in the 17th century. In addition, the British East India Company supported the cultivation of tobacco as a cash crop for both domestic consumption and international trade.

There are many different patterns associated with tobacco usage in India, including:

1. Smoking
2. Chewing
3. Applying
4. Sucking
5. Gargling, and so on.

Each of these patterns of consumption is governed by the geographic area, economic status, sociocultural, and religious influences.

How tobacco products cause cancer?

1. Tobacco smoke: Smokes from cigarettes and cigars and pipes have 70 different types of chemicals, when inhaled they get into the bloodstream and developing slowly into cancer.
2. Secondhand smoke: The people who smoke are not the only people who can get cancer from tobacco smoke. The secondhand smoke inhaled affects others close to smokers, including their partners, children, friends, coworkers, and others.
3. Chewing tobacco: Chewing tobacco is placed between the cheek and gum, and releases nicotine as the user chews it. Although these forms are smokeless, they contain at least 28 different cancer-causing substances.

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