THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As many as 30 percent of the cancer patients admitted to the Regional Cancer Centre in the last five years, were afflicted with the disease because of the indiscriminate use of pan masala. This was revealed by the RCC, in answers to the queries raised by PK Raju, a member of the Hospital Development Society of the SAT Hospital through Right to Information Act.Of the total number of 64,456 cancer patients who approached RCC between the years 2005 and 2011, as many as 18,940 were tobacco users. The splitup between the genders were 14,719 men and 4,221 women respectively. In the current year, till the month of April, tobacco-induced cancer was noticed in 844 patients. Even 39 children were found to be affected by cancer because of tobacco use."The tobacco products, especially pan masala are such a huge menace. These chewable tobacco products are sold even on the court premises here. It is high time the authorities took some action,’’ said P K Raju.
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