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Tobacco and Cancer


  • Tobacco use in any form (smokeless/ cigarette / bidi) can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body such as mouth and throat, voice box (larynx), lungs, bronchi, trachea esophagus, liver, kidney, renal pelvis, bladder, cervix, colon, blood (acute myeloid leukemia), pancreas, stomach.

  • Cigarette smoke contains plenty of carcinogens. The presence of free radicals and oxidants in cigarette smoke can lead to oxidative DNA damage or they can change a cell’s DNA, which controls a cell’s normal growth and function.

  • When DNA is damaged, a cell can begin growing out of control and create a cancer tumor. Poisons in cigarette smoke can weaken the body’s immune system, making it harder to kill cancer cells. When this happens, cancer cells keep growing without being stopped and limit the benefits of cancer treatment.

  • The most important things you can do to avoid these health risks are— If you don’t use tobacco—don’t start! If you do use tobacco—quit!

  • No matter how long you have used tobacco, quitting can reduce your risk for cancer and other chronic diseases.

  • Nicotine addiction is the hardest addiction to quit. The cancer and its treatment related stress may make it harder.

  • Always ask your doctor for counselling and medication for the same. Seek the help of some professionals who work in de-addiction centers or section.

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