More than half of bladder cancers in the US are the result of smoking, and 90 per cent of smokers with the disease are aware of the connection, according to a new study.

"Bladder cancer is actually the second most common smoking-related cancer, second only to lung," said lead author Dr. Jeffrey C. Bassett of Kaiser Permanente Southern California in Anaheim.

Although previous studies had suggested that few people understood the connection between bladder cancer and tobacco, this new study found the opposite, he said.

World No Tobacco Day is on May 31. Cancer survivor Vandana Gupta (VG), the founder of V Care, a support service for cancer patients and their families in India, talks about the urgent need to protect your kids and family members from the widespread scourge of tobacco use. Plus, what to say to kids who think smoking is cool. 

Says Dr V Shanta, cancer specialist and the Chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute, Chennai. Lung cancer, which is related to smoking, is today the top cancer in the country. Within the year, 15.5% of 13 to 15-year-olds are going to start smoking. Don’t let your child be one of them. Plus, how smoking harms non-smokers, too. 

1. How grave is the health problem posed by tobacco use in India? How much of it relates to smoking cigarettes, beedis and how much is it due to consumption of gutka, paan masala, paan?

Why become a victim of cancer and other ugly diseases, when life has so much to offer, says Dr Lancelot Pinto, consultant respirologist and smoking cessation therapy specialist at Mumbai's PD Hinduja Hospital.

How important is it to stop smoking?

Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, cancer surgeon at Tata Memorial Hospital and leading tobacco control advocate on the importance of the fight against tobacco and what more needs to be done. 

1.  Why is the fight against tobacco important?

It is not always clear what causes irritable bowel syndrome, treatment focuses on the relief of symptoms, so that you can live as normally as possible.

In some cases, medication along with psychological treatments may also be helpful.

Some suggestions:

Kailash Ashutosh Mehta,76, quit smoking after he became nearly crippled by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). He fought his disease with exercise and pulmonary rehabilitation that helped him improve his breathing, fitness and quality of life.

Quitting smoking can be extremely challenging, but it can be achieved if you stay mentally strong. We bring you two smoking cessation success stories of Gavin and Anu who woke up one day and decided not to smoke any more. Find out why and how they quit.

Gavin:

Anar Chaudhari, 40, who quit smoking after nearly 20 years, says it requires immense willpower and resolve to kick the smoking habit and shares her journey of quitting smoking and the benefits she has observed.

Smoking on an Impulse