Changed lifestyle habits, including consumption of tobacco, will lead to cancer, warned V. Shanta, Chairman, Cancer Institute, here on Saturday.
Speaking at a workshop for Men Self Help Groups (SHG) of Chennai, organised jointly by the Cancer Institute and Montfort Community Development Society, Dr. Shanta said they should spread awareness about early cancer detection, which is curable.
Tobacco and cancer cannot be separated. Chewing or consuming tobacco products is a disease and it is difficult to make people quit the habit.
The institute has counselling facilities for those who wanted to quit the habit, she said. Advanced stages of cancer are difficult to treat and cure. Non-bleeding ulcers in the body and unusual bleeding were some of the symptoms of cancer, for which a physician should be consulted immediately, she said.
Data on cancer was not available in 1955 but today nearly a million people in the country were affected by cancer. Many of them were not even aware of the problem, she said.
R. Asokan, a surgeon from Virudhunagar, said one should be an example while spreading awareness about the ill effects of tobacco. Only then it would reach the target audience. Similarly, those consuming tobacco and its products should realise that they are addicted to it, only then it would be easy to make them quit the habit. The realisation would also help in stopping the consumption of tobacco products.
Nearly 150 men belonging to various SHGs participated in the programme.
P. Prakash, one of the members of the Thozhar Thangam SHG, Besant Nagar, said he was planning to organise an awareness camp in fishing hamlets in Besant Nagar with the help of Cancer Institute, as many persons in this hamlets are in the habit of consuming tobacco and its products. He also has plans to create awareness about the ill effects of tobacco among fellow autorickshaw drivers, he added.
