One Habit, Many Cancers: Oncologist Warns Against Tobacco Use on World No Tobacco Day

Hyderabad: Marking World, No Tobacco Day, Dr. Madhu Devarasetty, Senior Consultant Surgical Oncologist and Robotic Surgeon at KIMS Hospitals, Secunderabad, has urged people to quit tobacco, warning that even seemingly harmless habits such as occasional smoking or chewing gutka can lead to life-threatening cancers and long-term health complications.

Highlighting the devastating impact of tobacco, Dr. Devarasetty said tobacco consumption remains one of the leading preventable causes of cancer and death worldwide. According to global estimates, tobacco claims more than seven million lives annually, while nearly 1.35 million deaths in India are linked to tobacco use each year.

“Tobacco works quietly, slowly, and relentlessly. What begins as a cigarette during stress or a packet of gutka after meals can eventually lead to major surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, permanent lifestyle changes, and sometimes loss of life itself,” he said.

He noted that tobacco-related cancers can affect multiple organs, including the lips, tongue, cheeks, throat, vocal cords, lungs, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, and bladder. As cancer surgeons, doctors frequently encounter patients suffering from diseases that could have been prevented through tobacco cessation.

Dr. Devarasetty stressed that no form of tobacco is safe. While many users believe smokeless products such as gutka, khaini, pan masala with tobacco, and chewing tobacco are less harmful than smoking, these products are strongly associated with oral cancers, which remain among the most common cancers in India.

He also expressed concern over the growing popularity of vaping and newer nicotine products among adolescents and young adults, cautioning that these products are often marketed as safer alternatives despite potential health risks.

Pointing to a worrying trend, the oncologist said tobacco-related cancers are increasingly being diagnosed in younger individuals. “We are now seeing patients in their thirties and forties developing cancers that could have been prevented. Behind every diagnosis is a family dealing with emotional trauma, financial burden, and uncertainty about the future,” he said.

Dr. Devarasetty urged people to pay attention to early warning signs such as non-healing mouth ulcers, persistent hoarseness of voice, difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, changes in bowel habits, blood in urine, and unexplained weakness. Such symptoms should never be ignored and require prompt medical evaluation.

Emphasizing that quitting tobacco is beneficial at any stage, he said the body begins to recover within weeks of cessation, with improvements in breathing, circulation, and a gradual reduction in the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Calling for a collective effort to combat tobacco use, he said parents, educational institutions, workplaces, healthcare professionals, and society at large must work together to create awareness and encourage tobacco-free environments.

While modern advances in cancer treatment, including robotic surgery, targeted therapies, and improved radiation techniques, have significantly improved patient outcomes, prevention remains the most effective strategy, he added.

“The best way to fight tobacco-related cancer is to prevent it before it begins. Say no to tobacco and say yes to a cancer-free world,” Dr. Devarasetty said.