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Submitted by PatientsEngage on 13 May 2015

World No Tobacco Day is on May 31. Cancer survivor Vandana Gupta (VG), the founder of V Care, a support service for cancer patients and their families in India, talks about the urgent need to protect your kids and family members from the widespread scourge of tobacco use. Plus, what to say to kids who think smoking is cool. 

PE: Your organisation, V Care, offers support to different types of cancer patients. What are the specific challenges pertaining to cancers related to tobacco use?

VG: Tobacco harms the health, the finances, and the spirit of India. Every year, more than 981,100 people are killed by tobacco-caused diseases, while more than 2,542,000 children (more than 25 lakh) and more than 120,000,000 (12 crore) adults continue to use tobacco each day. 

Complacency in the face of the tobacco epidemic will ensure the tobacco industry continues to run over the lives of India's citizens and ensure that tobacco's death toll will grow with each passing year. Tobacco adds to poverty as people spend their hard earned money on it. It adds to pollution of the environment. The Government and policy makers have interest in the Industry and so stringent laws are neither passed nor implemented.

PE. What kind of educational programmes has V Care been carrying out in this field?

VG: We have got brochures and information booklets, which talk of the harmful effects of tobacco. We also carry out awareness programmes in factories, schools, colleges, slums and clubs to talk about the effects of tobacco use. We have conducted programmes at the airport and in trains to target larger audiences. At the time when plastic bags were being banned, we got cloth bags made with the Harms that tobacco causes and distributed them to the public. Most of the time, this is conducted in various Indian languages.  

PE: What has been the most challenging message to get across? 

VG: Whenever we have spoken about the relationship of cancer and tobacco, the reaction is: Then why do people who do not consume tobacco get cancer? It becomes a challenge to explain that different cancers are caused by different things. Also, poverty is an excuse to chew tobacco and then it is difficult to explain.

PE: You are a cancer survivor. What were your top three learnings from that experience? 

VG: Cancer is a word and not a death sentence. When the doctor told me I had cancer I thought about death. Then I found a way to beat it. I want to share my story and the ray of hope.

Cancer makes you realise how fragile life is and how valuable life is by respecting (without ignoring) all the messages your body and your life sends to you.  It means taking care of yourself well without shame or guilt, so that you are free to love others as long as you are able!

Never Ever Give Up. I have a second chance in life and I will make it beautiful. Life becomes different and you will never be the same person you were

PE: How other countries are dealing with restricting the use of tobacco? What are some of the good ideas that you have seen in practice elsewhere.

VG: As far as I know the whole world is dealing with the ill effects of tobacco. Ireland, a country with a culture of pubs, was the first country to ban tobacco.

Some of the best practices I have seen are:

 Tobacco packaging, which is self-explanatory

 Competitions and consumer information

 Greater investments in anti-smoking social marketing campaigns

 Increase in tobacco excise 

 Reduction in duty-free allowance of tobacco products

 Stronger penalties for tobacco smuggling offences

PE: How is India doing in its fight against tobacco use? What needs to be done?

VG: There is a greater awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco, which is a very positive sign. But there is still more to be done. I like the idea promoted by UICC (Union for International Cancer Control) regarding promoting health care and raising awareness about the ill effects of tobacco. With 65% of the population aged over 15 years part of the workforce, the workplace provides a tremendous opportunity to create health-enabling environments and promote behavioural change to reduce global smoking levels. 

Promoting health in the workplace is good for people and also for business. It can help avoid lost productivity and absences due to sickness, and reduce healthcare costs. Supporting employees to quit smoking should be part of investing in a broader healthy workplace culture.

PE: What would be your message to youngsters who think smoking is cool?

VG: The longer you smoke the more addicted you become. It burns your insides. One has to understand WHY it is harmful and what it will do to you. Just as smokers encourage you to smoke, you should be a role model to them and encourage them to stop.

V Care is based in Mumbai. Their services include access to information, support groups, medicines and prosthesis, nutritional supplements, palliative care and more. You can access their services at Tata Memorial Hospital, Jaslok Hospital, Lilavati Hospital, Nanavati Hospital, Breach Candy Hospital, ACTREC, Sant Gadge Maharaj Dharamshala.

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