World Cancer Day 2023: “Have a Smoke, What’s the Worst That Can Happen”

Approximately 80% of oral cancers are directly linked to tobacco smoking, especially in men over 40 years old.

World Cancer Day 2023: Gutka/Tobacco is one of the major reasons for oral cancer in India, and yet it is so aggressively advertised and comes in a number of brands. It is claimed to be a mouth freshener but in fact it is a disguised poison that can lead to many harmful diseases including cancer. Gutka is said to have both relaxing and stimulating properties and people get addicted to it.

Most of the consumers think that gutka is safe but oncologists in particular claim that gutka is more dangerous than any other tobacco product.

The highest rate of oral cancer in India is because of the growing use of gutka. Studies say that there could be one billion preventable deaths worldwide by the middle of the twenty-first century if the current tobacco usage rate is continued.

35% of adults in India which is about 275 million people, consume tobacco (as per GATS survey). 164 million people use smokeless tobacco, 69 million people smoke, and 42 million people use both smoking and smokeless tobacco.

Approximately 80% of oral cancers are directly linked to tobacco smoking, especially in men over 40 years old. Incidence of this cancer among women and young adults has increased over the past few decades. Young people and women are using smokeless tobacco at higher rates, either as a result of peer pressure or imitation.

One of the young gutka consumers said that he is well aware of all the risks of eating gutka but he is still consuming it because it relaxes his mind and he enjoys it.

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