Tobacco’s Silent Damage: Why Prevention Remains Our Strongest Weapon Against Cancer
Dr. Madhu Devarasetty
One cigarette during stress. A packet of gutka after meals. Occasional smoking with friends. Years later, the same habit can lead to major surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, permanent lifestyle changes, and sometimes loss of life itself. That is how tobacco works. Quietly. Slowly. Relentlessly.
From Public Health Threat To “Silent Epidemic”
Tobacco kills more than 7 million people every year globally. In India alone, tobacco accounts for nearly 1.35 million deaths annually. Tobacco affects nearly every organ in the body. It damages blood vessels, increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, weakens the lungs, and significantly increases the risk of multiple cancers. 1 in 4 cancer deaths is related to tobacco exposure and other lifestyle risk factors.
Tobacco-related cancers do not affect just one organ. They can involve the lips, tongue, cheeks, throat, vocal cords, lungs, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, bladder, and many other parts of the body.
As Cancer Surgeons we come across these Tobacco related cancers on regular basis. What makes this particularly painful is that many of these cancers are preventable.
The Ground Reality: “No form of tobacco is safe”
In India, especially in our region, smokeless tobacco products such as gutka, khaini, pan masala with tobacco, and chewing tobacco are widely used. Unfortunately, many people wrongly believe these products are safer than smoking. In reality, they are strongly associated with oral cancers, which are among the most common cancers seen in our country.
We must also recognize the growing concern of vaping and newer nicotine products among adolescents and young adults. These products are often marketed as fashionable or safer alternatives.
No longer an Old Mans Disease: “The Paradigm Shift”
One of the most heartbreaking realities today is the increasing number of younger patients developing tobacco-related cancers. We now see individuals in their thirties and forties suffering from diseases that could have been prevented.
Behind every diagnosis is a family facing emotional distress, financial burden, and uncertainty about the future.
“Keep aside Regrets: There is a Future You Can Still Save”
Regret: “I have not taken the warning signs seriously”
Non-healing mouth ulcer, persistent hoarseness of voice, difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, change in bowel habits, blood in urine, generalised weakness. These warning signs should never be ignored and require immediate Oncologist consultation.
Regret: “I wish I had quit earlier.”
It’s never too late to do something which is life changing. Quitting tobacco at any stage brings benefits. Within weeks, the body begins to recover. Breathing improves, circulation becomes better, and the future risk of cancer and heart disease gradually decreases.
More importantly, quitting tobacco protects not only the individual but also their loved ones.
The Not So Easy Way Ahead
Cancer may affect one person, but fighting it takes all of us — families, doctors, survivors, and society united as one. Parents must openly discuss the dangers of tobacco with children. Educational institutions should actively create awareness among youth. Workplaces and public spaces should encourage tobacco-free environments. Healthcare workers must continue counselling patients about cessation and early screening. Cancer treatment has advanced tremendously with modern surgery, robotic technology, targeted therapy, and improved radiation techniques.
However, no technology can fully erase the suffering caused by preventable tobacco-related diseases. On this World No Tobacco Day, let us make a conscious decision — for ourselves, our families, and the next generation. If you use tobacco, seek help and take the first step toward quitting today. If you do not use tobacco, encourage and support someone who is trying to quit.The best way to fight tobacco-related cancer is to prevent it before it begins.
“Say No to Tobacco, Say Yes to Cancer Free World”
Dr. Madhu Devarasetty is Senior Consultant Surgical Oncologist
and Robotic surgeon at KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad
