Archive · 5 Jun 2025
Chewing Tobacco Significantly Increases Oral Cancer Risk for Elderly
A new study shows that using chewing tobacco greatly raises the chances of getting mouth cancer, especially for older people.
It's nearly 20 times more likely for those over 60 compared to those who don't use it.
This cancer risk comes from damage to cells over time, combined with tobacco use.
Using betel quid with raw tobacco or chewing tobacco frequently also significantly raises the risk.
The longer someone uses smokeless tobacco, the higher their chances of getting cancer.
This means both men and women face this higher risk.
Smokeless tobacco increases oral cancer risk, particularly in those over 60.
The risk is 19.5 times higher for elderly smokeless tobacco users compared to non-users.
Across all age groups, smokeless tobacco users face nearly 13 times the risk compared to smoked tobacco.
Using betel quid with raw tobacco raises oral cancer risk by over 21 times.
Long-term smokeless tobacco use is linked to a significant increase in cancer risk.
- Who
- Researchers from M S Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru conducted the study.
- What
- A study found that chewing tobacco significantly increases the risk of oral cancer, particularly in people over 60.
- When
- Published recently in the Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry; study took place before June 5, 2025.
- Where
- The observational case-control study took place in Kaiwara, Chikkaballapur district, India.
- Why
- Age and long-term tobacco use increase oral cancer risk due to accumulated genetic damage and cellular changes.
- Increased risk in elderly
- 19.5 times higher
- Risk increase across all ages for smokeless tobacco
- Nearly 13 times
- Risk increase with betel quid and raw tobacco
- Over 21 times
- Risk increase for those using smokeless tobacco more than five times a day
- 39-fold
- Increase in cancer risk with over 20 years of smokeless tobacco use
- Nine-fold