Last year, V.K., a 44-year old Indian resident of Dubai, was diagnosed with tongue cancer. As part of the treatment, he has had part of his tongue and jaw removed.
He had chewed smokeless tobacco for 20 years. His wife, S.M., told Gulf News her husband's story as he can no longer communicate effectively.
"My husband started chewing tobacco when he was 15. He chewed often but not continuously. He finally quit in 1997, but the damage was done. In March 2006, he was noticed he had a growth on his tongue. The diagnosis was tongue cancer and he had surgery in India. He had half of his tongue and his lower jaw removed. When we came back, he did radiation therapy. He's OK now.
"I am angry that he ever chewed tobacco. He is not the only one affected by the cancer. Our family has suffered too. He gets frustrated, depressed and angry because when he talks, we don't understand him.
"He cannot chew anymore. He can only eat soft foods. I pray hard and I take care of him. But if I see people smoking or chewing tobacco, I tell them to stop. I tell them my husband's story and I say that the same thing is happening to them."
