Smoking kills. Infact tobacco is linked to the highest number of cancer cases reported in India amongst men. Sharfudeen, a resident of Chennai, and a cancer survivor — Laryngectomy patient — explains why one needs to quit smoking at the earliest.
"If you are in the habit of chewing, smoking or consuming tobacco in any form, please do quit now. At some point of time, it will affect your health adversely," says he.
Sharfudeen speaks with the help of an equipment called electro-larynx because he's has lost all abilities to speak normally.
It was in 1999 that Sharfudeen was detected with Laryngeal or Voice-box cancer. Doctors tried various treatments including radiation therapy but finally his larynx or voice box had to be removed completely.
Surgical Oncologist, Dr C S Mani says, "Sharfudeen's cured of his cancer for the last eight years but still has a laerge disability in him where he cannot be functionally rehabilitated, whether it's a job and his domestic and day-to-day communication is by and large a great difficulty
"If you are in the habit of chewing, smoking or consuming tobacco in any form, please do quit now. At some point of time, it will affect your health adversely," says he.
Sharfudeen speaks with the help of an equipment called electro-larynx because he's has lost all abilities to speak normally.
It was in 1999 that Sharfudeen was detected with Laryngeal or Voice-box cancer. Doctors tried various treatments including radiation therapy but finally his larynx or voice box had to be removed completely.
Surgical Oncologist, Dr C S Mani says, "Sharfudeen's cured of his cancer for the last eight years but still has a laerge disability in him where he cannot be functionally rehabilitated, whether it's a job and his domestic and day-to-day communication is by and large a great difficulty
Sharfudeen has been forced to take retirement from his job as a secretary in a co-operative housing society. He now spends his time educating people on risks of smoking and tobacco use.
Tobacco use and smoking is the biggest cause of cancer amongst men in India.
While lung cancer is the leading cause of death in men, esophigal and throat cancer follow close behind.
Some studies suggest that 24 per cent of men who smoke can expect to develop cancer during their lifetime.
"Smoking cannot be rationed. If you smoke just one or two cigarettes per day, you're not at a lesser risk because all it takes to trigger an event is just one," says Dr Mani.
It's a new lease of life as afar as Sharfudeen is concerned but for others, Sharfudeen's life is perhaps the best lesson against tobacco smoking.
Tobacco use and smoking is the biggest cause of cancer amongst men in India.
While lung cancer is the leading cause of death in men, esophigal and throat cancer follow close behind.
Some studies suggest that 24 per cent of men who smoke can expect to develop cancer during their lifetime.
"Smoking cannot be rationed. If you smoke just one or two cigarettes per day, you're not at a lesser risk because all it takes to trigger an event is just one," says Dr Mani.
It's a new lease of life as afar as Sharfudeen is concerned but for others, Sharfudeen's life is perhaps the best lesson against tobacco smoking.
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