The tobacco usage in State of Uttarakhand is highest in northern states and number of cancer caused by consumption of tobacco is on rise in the State, informed the oncology experts of Max hospital on the eve of ‘ World No Tobacco Day’ here on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Consultant – Surgical Oncology of the hospital, Dr Akash N Gaind said that Global Adult Tobacco Survey study indicates that the prevalence of tobacco use in Uttarakhand state is approximately 31 percent, which is the highest of all the Northern states. “In India 80 percent of all Oral cancers are Tobacco related and these cases have been rising steadily over the last seven years. Head and neck cancers form for the largest chunk of this. While there have been attempts to deter cigarette smoking either through taxation or banning it in public spaces, no such attention has been paid to other tobacco products such as gutka,” he said.

Dr Gaind further informed that microvascular reconstruction surgery is used in treatment of cancer patients after surgery.

The Consultant, Oncology Department, Dr Mahesh Sultania said, “Every year nearly one million new cancer cases are diagnosed in India. Incidentally India is the second largest producer and consumer of tobacco in the world after China with 275 million tobacco users. Statistics also show that 34.6 per cent of adults use some form of tobacco in India. Tobacco related illness including heart and lung diseases and cancer leave many families without main salary earners.”  

The Unit Head - Operations, Max Hospital Dehradun, Dr Sandeep Singh Tanwar, said that saying no to tobacco will not only protect health, reduce poverty but also promote social and economic development.