Quitting tobacco reduces oral cancer risk by over 60 per cent: Study

Stopping the consumption of tobacco dramatically reduces the risk of oral cavity cancer by more than 60 per cent a study conducted by a Mumbaibased organisation has foundThe study conducted by the Centre for Cancer Epidemiology of the Tata Memorial Centre TMC demonstrated that quitting smoking and chewing habits reduces the risk of oral cancer or buccal mucosa cancer compared with continuous consumptionFor this hospitalbased case control study enrolment was carried out in five TMC cancer centres located in Mumbai Navi Mumbai Barshi Varanasi and Guwahati in India during 20102022 The research was conducted on both men and women aged 1975 yearsFor the first time the study shows a 61 per cent reduction in the risk of oral cavity cancer for smokers and a 42 per cent reduction for tobacco chewers compared to current users after quitting the habit for 10 yearsHowever this risk reduction never approaches that of people who have never consumed tobaccoThis indicates that current tobacco users benefit from quitting as the risk is reduced by almost 50 per cent although their risk remains higher than that of never usersThis suggests that tobacco quitting works but not starting tobacco habits is more importantAbout 2025 per cent of our cancers are oral cancer which is related to tobacco Around 40 per cent of cancers including bladder kidney esophageal and pancreatic cancer are also connected with tobacco Therefore quitting tobacco will reduce cancer in our country the Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer ACTREC research wing of TMC director Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi told reportersHe said chewing tobacco with areca nut almost doubles the cancer risk but it was similarly reduced by quittingThis is the first evidence demonstrating usefulness of tobacco cessation Tobacco cessation reduces oral cancer risk by 60 per cent after 10 years of quitting but the risk never approached even closer to never users Therefore it is always better not to start tobacco consumption Centre for Cancer Epidemiology Director and author of the study Dr Rajesh Dixit saidHe further said that the genetic susceptibility for oral cancer also increases especially when combined with lifestyle factors such as tobacco useTobacco cessation means stopping the use of tobacco in any form such as cigarettes bidis gutkha khaini or chewing tobacco he addedMore than 30 per cent of Indias population consumes tobacco in one form or otherDr Sharayu Mhatre Scientific Officer and lead author of the study pointed out that these findings can be used for motivational counselling efforts and provide evidence that all forms of tobacco are harmful but quitting can lead to risk reversalThese results can support the development of future government guidelines and intervention policies encouraging them to place greater emphasis on tobacco cessation she addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever