World No Tobacco Day: Types of Cancer Caused by Tobacco

Initiated by WHO, World No Tobacco Day is observed on May 31 every year by health groups and activists around the world. This day highlights the harmful consequences of consuming tobacco. It also advocates reducing the impact of tobacco on the environment. As per data, every year, around 80 lakh people die due to tobacco-related conditions, and the tobacco industry further harms the environment by cutting down 60 crore trees to make cigarettes [1]. All this makes it extremely important to raise awareness against the usage of tobacco.

When it comes to the impact of tobacco addiction on your health, cancer is a major concern. While you can manage cancer with treatment if it is diagnosed at an early stage, it becomes difficult in case you are exposed to tobacco for a prolonged period. Read on to learn about the different types of cancers that can come from tobacco addiction, the different sources of tobacco infection, and more about World No Tobacco Day.

Cancers you may get from tobacco addiction. 

This World No Tobacco Day, keep in mind that among the different types of cancer, lung cancer is mostly associated with smoking. In fact, nine out of ten cases of lung cancer are caused by some types of tobacco products. It is important to know that tobacco can cause cancer in other parts of your body such as the bladder, cervix, liver, rectum, colon, stomach, pancreas, throat, mouth, voice box, esophagus, renal pelvis, kidney, trachea, and bronchi.

About World No Tobacco Day 2022 

Theme and key messages 

For the year 2022, the World No Tobacco Day theme is ‘Tobacco: a threat to our environment.’ The key messages that this day aims to convey around the world are as follows: 

• Tobacco harms the environment 

Explaining how tobacco poisons the soil and water around us with toxic waste and chemicals and cautioned not to fall prey to the tobacco industry’s ‘greenwashing’ initiatives  

• Make the tobacco industry clean up their mess 

Advocating to hold the tobacco industry accountable for the environmental plunder caused by their products and make them pay for the damages 

• Quit tobacco to save our planet 

Promoting a better, tobacco-free world 

• Help tobacco farmers switch to sustainable crops 

Stressing the importance of governments and policymakers to arrange an alternative, safe, and more sustainable livelihood for the tobacco farmers.

Calls to action 

This year, WHO has reached out to different sections of people with separately designed calls to action [2] on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2022. The organization has made an appeal to the general public to help others quit smoking and support their policy action of banning single-use plastics used to make different tobacco products.

WHO further appeals for building awareness regarding the tobacco industry’s greenwashing strategy and supporting local governments in their pro-environment initiatives. To youth and future generations, WHO appeals to advocate for 100% tobacco-free schools, reduce the number of tobacco retail stores, and more.

Apart from this, WHO has prepared consolidated calls to action for the following sections of society: 

• Tobacco farmers 
• Ministries and policymakers 
• Civil society and NGOs 
• Intergovernmental organizations and academia

Advice to people to control tobacco usage 

If you are an active user of tobacco, quitting can significantly lower your risk of getting cancer or other tobacco-induced diseases. You can take the help of doctors and counselors to get the best guidance to lead a tobacco-free life. If you are not addicted to any form of tobacco, that’s the best way to live. Just make sure you don’t get exposed to passive smoking for a healthy life.

Sources of tobacco infection 

The phrase tobacco infection is mostly associated with direct smoking. In India, the products used for this include cigarettes, bidi, and hookah. However, if you are not a smoker, you can still get tobacco infection from passive smoking. Apart from that, there are sources of tobacco like electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. Note that smokeless tobacco is the most common form of tobacco consumption in India, which covers products like gutkha, khaini, and betel quid with zarda and tobacco.

While observing occasions like World No Tobacco Day, World Health Day, World Cancer Day, or No Smoking Day 2022, just make sure you know the objectives and raise awareness accordingly. To take part in the World No Tobacco Day 2022 campaign, get in touch with local health organizations. If you want to quit tobacco or suspect symptoms of cancer, you can opt for online doctor consultation on Bajaj Finserv Health. Get timely advice for an effective treatment on our website or app. For smart living and a greener environment, stay away from tobacco and motivate others to do so as well.