Is economic independence leading to a spurt in lung cancer in Indian women?
Latest studies are now showing that the nicotine marketing drive has increased the strike rate for lung cancer in Indian women, this according to a report out on May 31, 2010 – World Tobacco Day. This year again W.H.O’s (World Health Organisation) theme for the year is “Gender and tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women”. This is to bring attention to the harmful results of tobacco marketing to women and girls as a considerable increase in smokers among literate women, especially young college girls and BPO workers has been observed. An increased incidence of lung cancer in women is reported by ICMR (Indian council of Medical Research) after compilation of data from various cancer registries across the country. The incidence was greater in the North of India at one time but now is quickly spreading down South as well. Yet another fact gleaned from these statistics is that this increase was primarily due to cigarettes, as beedis and tobacco chewing lead to an increase in oral cav
