theindiantimes.com , Kolkata - India , 29 de Mayo - 2013
Chewing tobacco riskier than smoking: Study
Chewing tobacco poses a bigger threat than smoking, according to a study conducted by a group of city oncologists. Ahead of the No Tobacco Day on May 31, data compiled by the experts suggest that more than half of the city's tobacco-induced cancer patients are gutkha consumers, rather than smokers. Perhaps even more alarmingly, the average age of patients suffering from head-and-neck cancer - generally triggered by continuous tobacco use - has gone down to 25 years.
Conducted by Bengal Oncology, the study reveals that the share of head-and-neck cancer could drop to less than 20% from the present 45% of all cancer-affected people in Bengal if chewing tobacco could be prohibited. Even though gutkhas have been banned in the state, sale hasn't stopped. The figures also show that the number of tobacco-chewers is rising in the city faster than the number of smokers. "In terms of the number of patients who seek treatment in Kolkata hospitals, more chewers are falling prey to the disease than smokers. One reason could be the misconception that chewing is safe. This has led to a phenomenal rise in the number of gutkha and pan-masala users in Kolkata," said oncologist Subir Ganguly.
About one in two adult males in Bengal use tobacco. One in about five females is also a tobacco-addict. Till a decade ago, more than 90% of the head-and-neck cancer patients would be smokers. The trend started changing about seven years ago, according to oncologists. "We noticed a sharp rise in the number of gutkha-users being affected by cancer. Since 2006, the number has doubled and now more chewers are falling prey to the disease than smokers. The change has been dramatic," said Ashish Mukhopadhyay of the Netaji Subhas Cancer Research Institute.
Around 60% of all head-and-neck cancer patients in Kolkata are tobacco-chewers, said Ganguly. "It could not only lead to cancer in the oral cavity, but could also affect other organs that receive the tobacco juice. It is highly carcinogenic. Smoking, though, is equally harmful since many of the hydrocarbons produced by the burning of the cigarette paper are carcinogenic, too," explained Ganguly.
Easy availability, coupled with a complete lack of restriction on use, has drawn thousands of youngsters to gutkha, pointed out experts. "You can use it while travelling, in an auditorium or even at work. While we have restrictions on smoking, chewing remains easy. It can't be curbed unless we stop their sale," said Ganguly. The result has been quite distressing. More than 70% of the city's tobacco-chewers are believed to be aged below 35 years. A large number of them are falling prey to cancer even before turning 25.
In West Bengal, tobacco addicts are initiated into this habit at the ages of 18-19, and over half of them (55.7%) feel the compulsive urge to take their first fix of tobacco within the first half-hour of waking up. Although over 85% of adults believe that smoking and smokeless tobacco products cause serious diseases, it is a sad fact of life that most tobacco addicts are unable to quit as long as these products are freely available and aggressively marketed through advertisements, according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey
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