Hi

This evening I received this email below which I am replying here.

quote:

I have dipped tobacco over a period of about 10 months. During this period I frequently went without using tobacco for 2 to 3 weeks at a time and only rarely used tobacco more than once a day. Could I still develop cancer of the mouth, throat, or tongue due to my tobacco use even though it has been short-lived.

Dear A

Your risk of getting a mouth cancer is very, very small if you stop using tobacco now .

According to the experts:
After 6 months of stopping smoking the risk of heart attack, cancer and other smoking related diseases begins to fall . After 10 years, the risk of lung cancer falls to about half of that found in a smoker. The risk of heart attack falls to about the same as someone who has never smoked .

I would expect a similar scenario for chewing tobacco and mouth cancers. So stop worrying and stop using tobacco !

Do read the advice given here to others who have expressed concern about getting a mouth cancer after using 'spit tobacco.'

Best wishes
Vinod

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,