Union government should pass a legislation to enforce total ban on smoking. The current prohibition on smoking in public places is not sufficient, stated oncologists who are challenged in treating cancers occurring due to tobacco smoking and chewing.

An estimated 27.49 crore adults, in India use tobacco. Out of these, 16.37 crore  use only smokeless tobacco, 6.89 crore are exclusive smokers and 4.23 crore use both. Tobacco smoke contains over 4, 000 chemicals and much of it is  carcinogenic. Around two-thirds of patients with lung cancers are smokers.

On the occasion of the World Tobacco Day observed annually on May 31, cancers of head, neck and lung are on the rise. The patents in the age-group between 30 to 60 years are affected and the delayed diagnosis is seen a major challenge to treat. The only way would to impose a stringent legislation to stop tobacco consumption from chewing to smoking, stated oncologists from Apollo, Tata Memorial, Fortis, HCG, BGS Global, Mazumdar-Shaw Cancer Centre at Narayana Health City, and Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (KMIO).

Tobacco consumption causes not only lung cancer, but that of larynx, pharynx, oral cavity, food pipe, pancreas, kidney, stomach and colon. Smoking triggers cardiac, lung and brain diseases, including heart attack and stroke. Non smoke tobacco like chewing and snuff are equally dangerous. Passive smokers too are at risk of heart and lung diseases including cancer, said Dr Ganesha Dev Vashishta, chief medical oncologist, BGS Global Hospitals.

The theme of this year’s World Tobacco Day is ‘Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship’. “It is not enough to merely spread the information that tobacco consumption is dangerous to health. We need a strong legislation and follow the rule in its spirit, said Dr S Krishnamurthy, professor, surgical oncology, KMIO.

At the government-owned KMIO treats around 7,000 cases annually where 1,070 cases are oral cancer (560 female and 510 male) besides 400 lung cancer all  attributed to tobacco consumption. This is indicates the rampant tobacco-related cancers where 90 per cent of smokers are affected. Therefore, with a strong government intervention this cancer which impacts 20 per cent of the population can be prevented, informed Dr Krishnamurthy.

According to Dr Murali Subramaniam, consultant, medical oncologist, Oncology India a recently established day care cancer care centre, the tobacco branding exercise for cigarettes or gutaka is the culprit for addiction with the end-result being cancer.

People are seen to be scarred only if they see a tobacco-induced cancer patient suffer. There are smokers who come in to screen for cancer even when see a non-tobacco patient suffering. Unfortunately only few cancers in India have a genetic disposition and largely attributed to lifestyle and environment, pointed out Dr  Subramaniam.

To campaign for a tobacco free society, BGS Global Hospitals organized a Bikeathon to campaign ‘Embracing life, Staying alive’ as part of its corporate social responsibility.

There is an alarming rise of tobacco usage among youth and awareness is the key to prevent its consumption. In Karnataka, 10 to 12 per cent of the youth consume tobacco where children of 10 years are also hooked. This could possibly be the reason for a higher incidence of cancers in a younger age group, said Dr Vishal Rao, head and neck onco surgeon, BGS Global Hospitals.