Tobacco and Cancer
The Link You Cannot Ignore
Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of cancer worldwide. Yet, millions continue to use cigarettes, bidi, gutka, khaini, and other tobacco products — often unaware of the long-term consequences.
At Vijaya Memorial Cancer Care Centre (VMCCC), Jabalpur, we regularly see cancers directly linked to tobacco use. The good news? Many of these cancers are preventable.
How Does Tobacco Cause Cancer?
Tobacco contains more than 7,000 chemicals, and at least 70 of them are known carcinogens (cancer-causing substances).
When tobacco is smoked or chewed:
- Harmful chemicals damage DNA
- Cells begin to mutate
- Abnormal cells grow uncontrollably
- Over time, cancer develops
This damage may take years, but it accumulates silently.
Cancers Commonly Caused by Tobacco
Tobacco is linked to multiple cancers:
Lung Cancer
Most lung cancers are directly related to smoking.
