Clearing the Air: The Harsh Reality E-Cigarettes Leading to Cancer
Unfiltered Truth: Vaping, Smokeless Products and Cancer
In a world where the allure of smokeless alternatives to traditional cigarettes has grown, a cloud of concern looms over the health implications of these seemingly harmless options.
Vaping devices and smokeless products have surged in popularity, marketed as safer alternatives to smoking. Yet recent research is shedding light on a darker reality. The potential link between these modern nicotine delivery systems and the development of cancer in the mouth and throat.
Fast Facts on Mouth and Throat Cancers
Oral cavity cancer (cancer in the mouth) appears on the tongue, tonsils, gums and floor of the mouth. Oropharyngeal cancer (cancer in the throat) can appear in the mouth but also on the roof of the mouth and in the throat. The majority of cancers found in the oral cavity and oropharynx are called squamous cell carcinomas. These are also known as squamous cell cancers.
Symptoms of mouth and throat cancer include a lump, sore or patch on the lip or in the mouth that doesn’t heal. It could also appear as pain in the mouth or a sore throat that doesn’t go away. For the full list of symptoms, please visit Cancer.org.
The likelihood of experiencing oral cancers is approximately 1 in 59 for men and 1 in 139 for women. Tobacco use is one of the strongest risk factors for mouth and throat cancers. One study conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, found that more than 8 out of 10 oral cancer patients were smokers.
Are Vaping and Smokeless Products Safer Than Cigarettes?
No type of smokeless tobacco can serve as a risk-free alternative to smoking cigarettes. Oral tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, pouches, snuff, dip and more have been linked to mouth and throat cancers. Although smokeless tobacco products typically contain fewer harmful chemicals than cigarette smoke, they are still not safe to use. According to the CDC, men with prostate cancer who also smoke may be more likely to die from their prostate cancer than nonsmokers.
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Vaping, E-cigarettes and Pouches
According to Cancer.org, “The use of e-cigarettes is often referred to as ‘vaping’ because many people believe e-cigarettes create a vapor, which is then inhaled. But in fact, e-cigarettes produce an aerosol made up of tiny particles, which is different from a vapor.”
The e-liquid in most e-cigarettes contains nicotine and other substances that are addictive.
The pouches are tobacco-free and placed under the upper lip. In a study conducted in 2022, researchers examined 44 nicotine pouch products along with two nicotine-free pouches. They discovered that 26 of the samples contained tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), which are chemicals linked to cancer.
Nicotine
After learning about the different products, you may notice that they all have a main chemical in common: nicotine. Research findings indicate that nicotine can have various cancer-causing effects, including the acceleration of new cancerous cell growth.
Watch Your Mouth
Whether through traditional smoking, vaping or smokeless products, the presence of nicotine and tobacco and their connection to cancer cannot be underestimated. It is essential — for your overall health — to raise awareness, to understand the risks you take when consuming one of these products and to keep an eye out for cancer symptoms.
If you are seeking help, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute experts provide treatments for mouth, throat and lung cancers.
