Cigars and mouth cancer

[rectifythis]

Hey everyone, I have read a couple of threads about this and most are either not refering to MOUTH cancer but lung and/or have pages and pages of dry material I really don't want to sift through. I am not an alarmist, nor am I worried about getting mouth cancer. I believe all things in moderation and that the stress that a cigar counteracts is probably better for me than not. I am not looking for some other link to a medical journal, I am only interested in your personal experience. Do you or have you or anyone you know actually had mouth cancer from smoking cigars? This is more for my info than anything...I always have people ask me if I'm worried about getting mouth cancer and frankly I am not... but I don't know what else to say to them. In case you were wondering, I don't inhale, I do exhale through the nose a percentage of the time and I have anywhere from 1 to 7 cigars a week. Thank you for your input.

 

[atuck]

Oh! My Favorite subject!! ???

 

[rectifythis]

I'm not intending to be a buzzkill at all...actually, I'm somewhat inferring that I don't know of anyone who has had mouth cancer from cigar smoking. Which is nice. I love cigars. Actually, I'd guess fast food would probably be worse for you.

 

[bilder]

The only person I know of who has had any kind of oral cancer never smoked a day in her life.

If you want to play the numbers game. The tobacco cops tell you that cigar smokers are something like eight times more likely to get oral cancer over non smokers. That sounds terrible till you do the math.

In the non-smoking population, the rate of oral cancer is something like 0.25%. What is eight times more likely add up to? 2.0% chance of mouth or throat cancer during your lifetime.

In the population as a whole, the rate of oral cancer is like 3% in men and 2% in women. It is pretty rare no matter how you look at it.

Some studies indicate that there is a link between heavy alcohol consumption and oral cancers.

Basically your odds are better that you will die from one to many Big Mac's than oral cancer caused by cigars. 30% of deaths are heart disease related.

 

[atuck]

I'm not intending to be a buzzkill

Was the opposite to me my friend. It enhanced my mood when I got to leave my little smart ass comment .

And on the subject. My Lawyer, who used to be very into cigars, got persuaded to quit by his family because his brother, who also smoked cigars, got mouth cancer. My lawyer gave me his liscence plate that was shown in the Claudia Schiffer Cigar Aficianado: CGAR(heart)R = cigar lover. So I guess he was pretty serous about cigars, of course, before Imet him! He says that he will smoke 1 cigar a year as to prevent his own case of mouth cancer. I gave him 2 Taboada Dom Perignons for him and a friend to smoke for his once a year mini herf.

I know that I wont get mouth cancer :thumbs: . If I get cancer it will be of the esophogus :angry: . Doesn't that sound like fun! Uh oh, now my buzz is killed! :sign:

 

[rectifythis]

The lack of responses seems to be confirming my suspicion.

Typo edit

 

[DKAudio]

Cigars, never heard anything negative personally. Cigarettes, now that is another story. I know you didn't ask about them but my Uncle's face it pretty much torn apart because he got mouth cancer. He smoked cigs and an occasional cigar for ~30 years. He can hardly talk, drools, eats baby food and has some of his leg muscles on his face!

I am not worried about getting anything from cigars though. Granted I am 22, have only smoked them for about a year, and because of my financial situation I only get to have 1 (2 max) a week.

Some more replies would be interesting.

 

[hoshnasi]

My general feeling is cigars do more for personal health than they take away. However the people who end up on the losing side of the stats are always sobering to hear about.

With that said, as a funny side-note I once got into a huge debate with a self-proclaimed liberal here at work. I admitted to her that I smoke cigars and sometimes cigarettes. Averaging about one cigar a day. She had also admitted to me that she drinks 6+ cans of soda a day (not diet). While at lunch with her and colleagues I said that "All things being equal I believe my smoking hobby is far less dangerous the Sally's soda intake." The feeding frenzy that ensued at our lunch spot in the republic of California was quite amusing. I enjoy aggravating sheeple though.

 

[DKAudio]

While we are on this subject what are your thoughts on the debate of cigars vs pipes vs cigarettes?

I use to hear that a pack of cigarettes is equal to one churchill cigar. Was never answered when asked "is equal to what?"

I am wondering about long term effects of the above 3. Personally I am just smoking cigars right now, have never smoked cigarettes, and am looking at getting into pipe smoking.

 

[Rob_k]

i would imagine if you abuse anything (smoking 15 cigars a day or more for example) would have adverse effects on the human body.

 

[Mrepp]

Perhaps someone could shed more light on it but I believe mouth, esophagus and lung cancer are viruses thus smoking my increase your Risk not if you smoke your going to get it. Anyone can get cancer at any given time. I personally believe if you take care of your self by maintaining good oral hygiene (brush your teeth & mouth wash daily) you’ll be likely to have less of a chance then a non smoker who has poor oral hygiene.

 

[Devil Doc]

heart attack and exercising

 

[sgates]

Statistics on cancer from tobacco are the biggest manipulation of the American public.

Smoking / dipping / cigar statistics are stated typicall as such:

"200% increase in your chance of getting cancer" - however, the way it is calculated is

Your chance of getting cancer - 10 in 100,000
Your chance of getting cancer smoking cigars - 25 in 100,000

Technically (from a completely erronious way of calculation), the statistic went up from 10 to 25 or an increase of 150%, however, this is out of 100,000 - which is still statistically insignificant and shouldn't hold water. But none the less, we are basing legislation off of it.

 

[DKAudio]

Hmm, interesting, are those the actual numbers (25 in 100,000)?

 

[bchem]

Perhaps someone could shed more light on it but I believe mouth, esophagus and lung cancer are viruses thus smoking my increase your Risk not if you smoke your going to get it. Anyone can get cancer at any given time. I personally believe if you take care of your self by maintaining good oral hygiene (brush your teeth & mouth wash daily) you'll be likely to have less of a chance then a non smoker who has poor oral hygiene.

You might want to check your facts on the first bolded statement. Cancer is caused by mutations in the genome that effect a cell's ability to regulate mitosis (cell division), DNA damage repair, and cell-cell adhesion, amongst many other things. There are MANY contributing factors when it comes to developing cancer, and yes, SOME viruses can have a contribution to that, but genetics and environmental factors play a larger role in it. I think you may be confusing those cancers with cervical cancer that CAN be cause by Human Papilloma Virus. But even with that virus, (don't get me started about the vaccine!) you could never come into contact with it and STILL get cervical cancer through other means. I think that ad campaign has contributed to a large misunderstanding among the general population. That being said, I'm not so sure I agree with your last statement either. Oral hygiene is important in general, but I don't think brushing your teeth more regularly than a non smoker would make you have an even lower risk of getting cancer.

 

[bchem]

heart attack and exercising

I have read several articles regarding this issue. Some of them are pretty amusing. The take home message I liked best concerning this topic was something to the effect of, "If you want to increase your chances of living for the next hour, sit on the couch and don't run. If you want to increase your chances of living much longer than that, get of the couch and take a jog."

 

[Ginseng]

She had also admitted to me that she drinks 6+ cans of soda a day (not diet).

Wow,

So she's drinking 900 sugar calories every day. That can't be good considering the recommended caloric intake for an adult female is what, 2,000-2,500 calories?

Wilkey

 

[hoshnasi]

While we are on this subject what are your thoughts on the debate of cigars vs pipes vs cigarettes?

I use to hear that a pack of cigarettes is equal to one churchill cigar. Was never answered when asked "is equal to what?"

I am wondering about long term effects of the above 3. Personally I am just smoking cigars right now, have never smoked cigarettes, and am looking at getting into pipe smoking.

This is just one engineers opinion but in order from worst for you to least: Cigarettes > Chew > Cigars > Pipes.

Cigars and pipes I believe are FAR less harmful than Cigarettes and Chew if and only if you don't inhale, I would assume that would be the general consensus here.

Your point in bold though is interesting, I would ask "equal in what way?" I'll assume you mean on the bigguns; nicotine and tar. One cigar may have the same nicotine volume as a pack of cigs, but its absorption into the bloodstream is a fraction of just ONE cigarette. As for the tar, which is the real killer. Cigarettes once again are inhaled into the lungs, which is where the tar goes and sticks. However cigar smoke is mostly exhaled. I say mostly because we can all admit some tar is going in; I doubt its the same as the amount of carcinogens inhaled in a trip to Downtown LA, but its still there. :whistling:
So where does the tar in the mouth go then? Well a good portion of tar is swallowed either by drink/food/etc. and some level of digestion happens (Digestion via stomach is a much better way to handle tar then by lung though, if its called diggestion via lung heh). The other portion I would assume sticks to spaces in your mouth. This is where brushing helps.

Long term effects of smoking can yield more than cancer though. Many claim its prematurely ages skin (e.g. crows feet), yellows teeth and more often than not helps you live a happier and fruitful life. The positives are there too!

I do have to say that chew is one tobacco use I would really avoid. I have personally seen alot of health problems in chew. Not only do many companies add fiber glass to make small lacerations in the gums to allow more nic absorption. Chew is also kept around in the mouth sitting in the same spot more often then not just affecting the tissue it touches. I mean smoke is one thing, its mostly in and out. Letting an acidic glob sit in the same spot as your saliva goes to work releasing a boquet mass does not in my mind seem like fun. Also the horror stories pretty much scared me away from that too, so I guess point to the anti-tobacco lobby on that one.

BTW, I also smoke pipes. That is alot of fun. The kit needed and patients I believe is higher, mainly in breaking in a nice briar, but also tending the smoke as it burns. Tamping the plug and keeping the ash nice.

Once again just one guys opinion

 

[bchem]

While we are on this subject what are your thoughts on the debate of cigars vs pipes vs cigarettes?

I use to hear that a pack of cigarettes is equal to one churchill cigar. Was never answered when asked "is equal to what?"

I am wondering about long term effects of the above 3. Personally I am just smoking cigars right now, have never smoked cigarettes, and am looking at getting into pipe smoking.

This is just one engineers opinion but in order from worst for you to least: Cigarettes > Chew > Cigars > Pipes.

Cigars and pipes I believe are FAR less harmful than Cigarettes and Chew if and only if you don't inhale, I would assume that would be the general consensus here.

Your point in bold though is interesting, I would ask "equal in what way?" I'll assume you mean on the bigguns; nicotine and tar. One cigar may have the same nicotine volume as a pack of cigs, but its absorption into the bloodstream is a fraction of just ONE cigarette. As for the tar, which is the real killer. Cigarettes once again are inhaled into the lungs, which is where the tar goes and sticks. However cigar smoke is mostly exhaled. I say mostly because we can all admit some tar is going in; I doubt its the same as the amount of carcinogens inhaled in a trip to Downtown LA, but its still there. :whistling:
So where does the tar in the mouth go then? Well a good portion of tar is swallowed either by drink/food/etc. and some level of digestion happens (Digestion via stomach is a much better way to handle tar then by lung though, if its called diggestion via lung heh). The other portion I would assume sticks to spaces in your mouth. This is where brushing helps.

Long term effects of smoking can yield more than cancer though. Many claim its prematurely ages skin (e.g. crows feet), yellows teeth and more often than not helps you live a happier and fruitful life. The positives are there too!

I do have to say that chew is one tobacco use I would really avoid. I have personally seen alot of health problems in chew. Not only do many companies add fiber glass to make small lacerations in the gums to allow more nic absorption. Chew is also kept around in the mouth sitting in the same spot more often then not just affecting the tissue it touches. I mean smoke is one thing, its mostly in and out. Letting an acidic glob sit in the same spot as your saliva goes to work releasing a boquet mass does not in my mind seem like fun. Also the horror stories pretty much scared me away from that too, so I guess point to the anti-tobacco lobby on that one.

BTW, I also smoke pipes. That is alot of fun. The kit needed and patients I believe is higher, mainly in breaking in a nice briar, but also tending the smoke as it burns. Tamping the plug and keeping the ash nice.

Once again just one guys opinion

I see your points, but tend to disagree. I was kinda hoping for some sources for your info, but realize it is mostly your opinion. Furthermore, I have no desire to go hunt out my sources for my opinions, so we're in the same boat there. :laugh: Anyways, my overall problem with your views is that many of the carcinogens that come from tobacco are a product of the combustion process, something that isn't an issue with chewing tobacco. With all the fillers and chemicals in cigarettes, and their method of use, I think it is safe to say that they are likely the most dangerous of the 4 forms of tobacco that you mentioned. Assuming that the other 3 (dip/chewing tobacco, cigars, and pipes) are all made of natural tobacco, comparing the risks of those three are the same as comparing apples and oranges. I've done a fair amount of research on the reduction of risks seen by switching from cigarettes to dip, and I'm convinced that research is pretty solid. Like I said, I wish I could post links to the data that I am talking about, but am too sick of reading primary literature at work to come home and do it by choice lately.

Take my opinion for what it's worth though. (Not much according to my wife!) :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

[DKAudio]

While we are on this subject what are your thoughts on the debate of cigars vs pipes vs cigarettes?

I use to hear that a pack of cigarettes is equal to one churchill cigar. Was never answered when asked "is equal to what?"

I am wondering about long term effects of the above 3. Personally I am just smoking cigars right now, have never smoked cigarettes, and am looking at getting into pipe smoking.

This is just one engineers opinion but in order from worst for you to least: Cigarettes > Chew > Cigars > Pipes.

Cigars and pipes I believe are FAR less harmful than Cigarettes and Chew if and only if you don't inhale, I would assume that would be the general consensus here.

Your point in bold though is interesting, I would ask "equal in what way?" I'll assume you mean on the bigguns; nicotine and tar. One cigar may have the same nicotine volume as a pack of cigs, but its absorption into the bloodstream is a fraction of just ONE cigarette. As for the tar, which is the real killer. Cigarettes once again are inhaled into the lungs, which is where the tar goes and sticks. However cigar smoke is mostly exhaled. I say mostly because we can all admit some tar is going in; I doubt its the same as the amount of carcinogens inhaled in a trip to Downtown LA, but its still there. :whistling:
So where does the tar in the mouth go then? Well a good portion of tar is swallowed either by drink/food/etc. and some level of digestion happens (Digestion via stomach is a much better way to handle tar then by lung though, if its called diggestion via lung heh). The other portion I would assume sticks to spaces in your mouth. This is where brushing helps.

Long term effects of smoking can yield more than cancer though. Many claim its prematurely ages skin (e.g. crows feet), yellows teeth and more often than not helps you live a happier and fruitful life. The positives are there too!

I do have to say that chew is one tobacco use I would really avoid. I have personally seen alot of health problems in chew. Not only do many companies add fiber glass to make small lacerations in the gums to allow more nic absorption. Chew is also kept around in the mouth sitting in the same spot more often then not just affecting the tissue it touches. I mean smoke is one thing, its mostly in and out. Letting an acidic glob sit in the same spot as your saliva goes to work releasing a boquet mass does not in my mind seem like fun. Also the horror stories pretty much scared me away from that too, so I guess point to the anti-tobacco lobby on that one.

BTW, I also smoke pipes. That is alot of fun. The kit needed and patients I believe is higher, mainly in breaking in a nice briar, but also tending the smoke as it burns. Tamping the plug and keeping the ash nice.

Once again just one guys opinion

Great reply...
I agree mostly with what you said. I used to chew for about half a year. I enjoyed the buzz and did it sparingly(sp) enough so that it never went away. I probably only went through 6 tins. It was nice durring winter when cigar smoking was out of the picture.