Hi I used to chew 2 cans a week of any chew I could get in a can except straight...but I have finally quit and have been tobacco free for about 6 months and I just wanted to know if I can still get mouth cancer even though I have quit doing it? I get tiny red bumps on my cheeks that dont hurt or bleed and on the right side of my cheek it feels dry and I dont know why so I was just wondering if I could still develop cancer after quitting?
Hi, Thanks for writing in. Tobacco is a substance that contains cancer containing substances. Being so it increases the risk of oral cancer in those who chew it regularly. The risk to get oral cancer reduces significantly after stopping tobacco chewing However if you have done chewing of tobacco for many years then you will still have an increased risk of having oral cancer as compared to the rest of the population. If there is any lump in mouth or a wound that is not healing then you must at once consult the ENT surgeon and then get necessary investigations done if required. The relative risk of oral cancer increases with the time duration of tobacco chewing. If you have done tobacco chewing for less than 5 years then the risk is less. Maximum risk is in people who have tobacco chewing for 20 years or more. Please do not worry.