Most individuals hear the message.
Most agree with it.
Yet many continue using tobacco.
Not because they do not know tobacco is harmful.
But because they believe certain myths.
As a Head & Neck Surgical Oncologist, I frequently encounter patients who do not walk into the clinic saying:
“Doctor, I ignored symptoms.”
Instead, they say:
“Doctor, I thought this could not happen to me.”
And behind that sentence is usually a belief that slowly delayed diagnosis.
Sometimes for months.
Sometimes for years.
As Dr. Bhavin Vadodariya, MS, DrNB Surgical Oncology, Lead Consultant Surgical Oncologist at SSO Cancer Centre Ahmedabad, I would like to discuss some of the most common misconceptions I hear during consultations.
Because sometimes myths can become more dangerous than the disease itself.
Myth 1: “I Don’t Smoke Cigarettes, So I Am Safe”
This is probably one of the most common misconceptions in India.
Patients often say:
“Doctor, I never smoked.”
But then they add:
“I only take gutkha.”
“I use pan masala.”
“I use tobacco with lime.”
“Only occasionally.”
Many individuals assume that cigarettes alone increase cancer risk.
The reality is different.
Smokeless tobacco products may expose oral tissues repeatedly to carcinogenic substances over long periods.
Products frequently used include:
- Gutkha
- Khaini
- Zarda
- Pan with tobacco
- Supari mixtures containing tobacco
Repeated exposure over years can significantly increase oral cancer risk.
Myth 2: “I Am Too Young To Get Cancer”
I increasingly see younger patients presenting with oral lesions and head and neck cancers.
Many people still imagine cancer as a disease occurring only after the age of sixty or seventy.
Unfortunately, biology does not follow assumptions.
Risk depends on multiple factors including:
• Tobacco exposure
• Alcohol use
• Genetics
• Viral factors
• Lifestyle habits
• Duration of exposure
Age alone does not guarantee protection.
Myth 3: “If There Is No Pain, It Cannot Be Cancer”
This misconception delays diagnosis frequently.
Pain acts as an alarm signal.
People trust pain.
If there is no pain, they assume there is no problem.
But many early oral cancers can be painless.
Patients often report:
“Doctor, I had this ulcer for months but there was no pain.”
“Doctor, I could eat normally.”
“Doctor, I thought it would heal.”
Cancer unfortunately does not always announce itself loudly.
Sometimes it grows quietly.
Myth 4: “Biopsy Makes Cancer Spread”
As a surgeon, I hear this repeatedly.
“Doctor, I heard biopsy spreads cancer.”
This fear creates enormous anxiety among families.
A biopsy is a diagnostic procedure performed to identify tissue characteristics and guide treatment planning.
Without diagnosis, doctors are essentially working without a map.
Delaying biopsy can delay treatment decisions.
The disease itself progresses because of biology—not because tissue sampling was performed.
Myth 5: “I Have Used Tobacco For Years Without Problems”
This may be the most dangerous statement.
Because past survival creates false confidence.
People say:
“Doctor, I have used tobacco for twenty years.”
“Nothing happened.”
The challenge with tobacco-related disease is that injury accumulates slowly.
Damage may occur silently over long periods before symptoms become noticeable.
The absence of symptoms today does not guarantee safety tomorrow.
Why Myths Become Dangerous
The problem is not merely misinformation.
The problem is delay.
When symptoms are ignored:
- Diagnosis gets delayed
- Disease stage may advance
- Treatment complexity may increase
- Recovery can become more difficult
Early detection often changes outcomes dramatically.
The Conversation I Wish More People Had
Rather than asking:
“Can tobacco really cause cancer?”
I wish more individuals asked:
“How can I reduce my risk?”
Because prevention begins long before surgery.
Prevention begins with choices.
My Message On World No Tobacco Day 2026
As oncologists we can remove tumors.
We can reconstruct tissues.
We can create treatment plans.
But medicine becomes most powerful before disease appears.
The goal should not simply be treating cancer.
The goal should be preventing cancer whenever possible.
If you notice:
✓ Mouth ulcers lasting more than two weeks
✓ White patches
✓ Red patches
✓ Difficulty swallowing
✓ Neck swelling
✓ Long-term tobacco use
Please seek evaluation early.
Sometimes early action changes everything.
About The Author
Dr. Bhavin Vadodariya, MS, DrNB Surgical Oncology
Lead Consultant Surgical Oncologist
SSO Cancer Centre Ahmedabad
Special interests:
• Head & Neck Cancer Surgery
• Thyroid & Parathyroid Surgery
• Oral Cancer Surgery
• Advanced Reconstructive Oncology Surgery
Website: Dr Bhavin Vadodariya Official Website
Google Profile: Dr Bhavin Vadodariya Google Profile
Instagram: @the_cancer_surgeon24
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@cancerdocbhavin?si=ls6Zd2o3wOj_jIV9
#WorldNoTobaccoDay #OralCancer #CancerAwareness #HeadAndNeckCancer #DrBhavinVadodariya #CancerPrevention #SurgicalOncology #Ahmedabad
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