As a oncologist in Lucknow, I have a front-row seat to the devastating impact of tobacco. If I could make everyone in our country understand one thing, it would be this: There is no safe form of tobacco.

The Indian Tobacco Crisis in Numbers

India has one of the highest rates of oral cancer in the world, primarily due to the use of smokeless tobacco like gutka, khaini, and pan masala. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India, 2016–17, over 28% of adults use tobacco in some form. That’s nearly one in three people!

It’s Not Just About Lungs

• Smokeless Tobacco (Gutka/Khaini): A direct ticket to oral cancer. I see young men in their 30s with ulcers in their mouths that won’t heal. Treatment often requires surgery that removes parts of the jaw, tongue, or cheek, leaving permanent disfigurement and difficulty in eating or speaking.
  
• Smoking (Bidis/Cigarettes): Not only destroys lungs but also raises the risk of throat, voice box, pancreas, bladder, kidney, and cervical cancers.
  
• Secondhand Smoke: There is no safe level. Smoking at home endangers your family, especially children, with long-term respiratory and cancer risks.
  

Debunking the Myths

• Myth: “It’s just paan masala, not tobacco.”
  Fact: Most contain tobacco. Even without it, areca nut (supari) itself is a Group 1 carcinogen.
  
• Myth: “I only smoke occasionally.”
  Fact: There is no safe level. Every puff causes harm.
  
• Myth: “It relieves stress.”
  Fact: Nicotine tricks your brain. It creates anxiety, then makes you believe the next dose is relief. It’s addiction, not stress relief.
  

There is Hope: Your Body Can Heal

• Within 20 minutes, your heart rate drops.
  
• Within 12 hours, carbon monoxide levels normalize.
  
• Within 1 year, your heart attack risk drops sharply.
  
• Within 5 years, your mouth, throat, and bladder cancer risk is cut in half.
  

Your Action Plan to Quit

Quitting is tough, but possible with help:

• Consult a doctor for counselling and nicotine replacement therapies (gums/patches).
  
• Tell family and friends for emotional support.
  
• Use tools like the Government of India’s mCessation programme for step-by-step guidance.
  
• Most importantly, decide to take the first step.
  

Choose life. Choose health. Say no to tobacco in all its forms.

— Written by the best cancer specialist in Lucknow, Dr.HarshVardan Atreya

FAQs

Q1. Can chewing tobacco really cause cancer?
Yes. Chewing tobacco, gutka, and khaini are major causes of oral cancer in India.

Q2. Is occasional smoking safe?
No. Even occasional smoking damages cells and increases cancer risk.

Q3. How can I quit tobacco successfully?
With counselling, nicotine replacement, and family support, quitting is achievable.