Chewing tobacco poses a bigger threat than smoking, according to a study conducted by a group of city oncologists. Ahead of the No Tobacco Day on May 31, data compiled by the experts suggest that more than half of the city's tobacco-induced cancer patients are gutkha consumers, rather than smokers. Perhaps even more alarmingly, the average age of patients suffering from head-and-neck cancer - generally triggered by continuous tobacco use - has gone down to 25 years.
Conducted by Bengal Oncology, the study reveals that the share of head-and-neck cancer could drop to less than 20% from the present 45% of all cancer-affected people in Bengal if chewing tobacco could be prohibited. Even though gutkhas have been banned in the state, sale hasn't stopped. The figures also show that the number of tobacco-chewers is rising in the city faster than the number of smokers
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