Quitting tobacco can be a life-saving decision, quitting cigarettes reduces the risk of oral cancer by 60%, reveals a large study.

Quitting the tobacco habit is not only a step towards a healthy life, but it also cancer Like, the risk of serious diseases can also be reduced to a great extent (Quit Smoking Cancer Study). A recent comprehensive study has revealed that quitting cigarettes can reduce the risk of oral cancer by more than 60 percent, while quitting the habit of chewing tobacco reduces this risk by 42 percent.

This important study was conducted by the Center for Cancer Epidemiology at Tata Memorial Center (TMC), the country’s premier cancer research institute. The research analyzed data of patients in the age group of 19 to 75 years who came to five cancer centers located in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Barshi, Varanasi and Guwahati between 2010 and 2022. The aim of the study was to understand how cancer risk changes after quitting tobacco.

According to research findings, people who quit smoking cigarettes for a long time reduce their risk of oral cancer by 61 percent within about 10 years. Similarly, this risk was also seen reduced by 42 percent in those who chewed tobacco (Quit Smoking Cancer Study). However, this risk does not disappear completely and does not reach the level of those who have never used tobacco.

Experts say that this finding is a ray of hope for those who have been consuming tobacco for years. By quitting tobacco, the damage caused to the body gradually reduces and the risk of cancer also reduces significantly. This is a clear indication that quitting tobacco can be beneficial at any age.

Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, director of TMC’s research unit Advanced Center for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), said that about 20 to 25 percent of cancers occurring in India are directly related to oral cancer, the main reason for which is tobacco consumption. Apart from this, tobacco is also a major risk factor in cases of other cancers like bladder, kidney and pancreatic cancers.

The study also revealed that chewing tobacco along with betel nut increases the risk of oral cancer by almost double. Experts have warned that these types of mixed habits make the risk of cancer more serious. However, the good thing is that by quitting tobacco, this risk gradually starts reducing and the process of improvement in the body starts.

Health experts believe that staying away from tobacco is the most effective way to prevent cancer. It not only reduces the risk of cancer (Quit Smoking Cancer Study), but also improves overall health and life quality. This study has once again proved that quitting tobacco is a decision that can make life safer and healthier in the long run.