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There are about 315 million young people aged 10-24 years in India, approximately 30 per cent of the country's population. The healthy habits and attitudes formed during young age lay a strong foundation for lifetime of health-related behavioural patterns. Many people believe cancer was "destined to happen" or "in the genes". Our everyday choices are of extreme importance where this disease is concerned. Cancer is not caused by a single event, but is the result of a process that takes years to develop. It's a combination of inherited susceptibilities and a variety of lifestyle choices. Some simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference. As per estimates by WHO, approximately 80 per cent of adult smokers initiate their tobacco use before the age of 18. Adolescents smoke for different reasons. Some smoke to show off their independence as they perceive it as a sign of maturity, others because their friends do. In India, approximately 5,500 adolescents start using tobacco every day. Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of cancer. Cigarette contains over 4,000 toxic elements at least 50 of which are known to cause cancer. Tobacco use is responsible for about 40 per cent of cancers in males and about 20 per cent of cancers in females. However, the youth should realise that tobacco use is not fashionable at all. On the contrary, the use of tobacco and related products reduces physical fitness and is socially unacceptable. Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are other major risk factors for cancer. Nearly three out of four obese adolescents also remain obese as adults thereby increasing their risk of not only cancer but heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Physical activity and a diet rich in fibre, fruits and vegetables are known to protect against cancer. Early unprotected sexual intercourse increases the risk of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection and thus the risk of adult cervical cancer in females. The HPV vaccine against cervical cancer is recommended for girls aged 9-26 years. Social, economic and legislative factors help shape health behaviour. Law-makers and private agencies need to create more awareness against these health problems to help make these lifestyle changes easier to adopt. The price and availability of healthy foods, incentives and opportunities for regular physical activity in schools, colleges and communities, advertising content as well as availability of insurance coverage of screening tests and treatment for tobacco addiction all influence individual choices. Improved collaboration among government agencies, private companies, non-profit organisations, health-care providers, policy makers and most importantly the public can lead to continued improvements and more favourable trends that reduce the risk of cancer in next generation. Youth involvement in cancer control programs is very important. They should be considered not part of the problem but part of the solution. They can fight on behalf of their community to develop policies and enhance implementation of various tobacco control laws. Tobacco industry spends crores everyday targeting youth to develop its next generation of smokers. Youth have the passion and creativity to fight back and to protect themselves from this formidable opponent. Their role goes far beyond sitting in a class-room receiving health education. They should be used to create awareness among masses. Instead of looking at young people as recipient of services and programs we should look at them as resources, as partners who will make valuable contribution in planning and implementing cancer prevention activities. — The writers are part of Team Preventive Oncology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre, New Delhi
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Smartphones and
tablets may hold the key to get more clinicians screen patients
for tobacco use and advise smokers on how to quit, research
shows. In the study, using mobile phones loaded with tobacco
screening guidelines prompted nurses to ask patients about their
smoking habits.