Vaping from adolescence may speed up lung cancer

ALICANTE (EFE). Vaping and smoking electronic cigarettes from adolescence may advance the age of onset lungs’ cancerThe hypothesis being considered by oncologists is that vapes contain more carcinogens than regular tobacco, but the vapers’ method of consumption appears to allow for deeper penetration.

At an event designed to highlight the risks of new forms of tobacco smoking among teenagers, organized by the Spanish Group Against Lung Cancer (GECP), oncologists warned that new electronic devices are gaining popularity among young people, with 54.6% having already tried them and it is unstoppable. progress among teenagers.

Secretary of the Spanish Group Against Lung Cancer (GECP) and oncologist Bartomeu Massuti warned that if this pace continues, vaping and e-cigarettes will become products of mass consumption, with their presence increasing by 2.3% in just one year.

Massuti stressed that there is an “absolute correlation” between habitual tobacco use and the occurrence of lung cancer 15 to 20 years later. “Is this happening with new forms of consumption: e-cigarettes and vaping devices? Everything points to yes.”

According to this oncologist from the Alicante General Hospital, “there is no evidence that this will not happen. On the contrary, there is preliminary research that suggests that vaping will have very negative health effects in the short term.” “

At an event organized by GECP, Massuti cited a recent American Association for Cancer Research study that found the risk of lung cancer is three to four times higher among populations who smoke conventional tobacco and vaping devices, compared with those who only use traditional tobacco products. cigarettes.

This oncologist commented that in Spain this is based on a previous controversy that said using e-cigarettes could help smokers kick the habit. “This strategy cannot be sustained today.”

Using e-cigarettes as a way to break addiction is a mistake: “We must equate the risk and health impact of conventional tobacco with new forms of smoking,” he commented.

Virginia Calvo, a lung cancer specialist at the Puerta de Hierro hospital, also agrees with the harmful effects of new forms of smoking and believes that although the research is very preliminary, “it is very likely that young people who are now starting to become hooked on vapers within 15 and 20 years will have the same effects that are observed today with traditional cigarettes.

Calvo noted that the current average age of diagnosis for lung cancer is 60 years, but this type of tumor is being seen in increasingly younger people, suggesting that the average age of onset will increase.

In his opinion, “the most important thing is to eliminate the false sense of security that comes with these new devices, which are also very attractive to young people.”

At the event, the GECP “Keep Tobacco Out of Your Life” awards were presented to three high schools and three other runners-up for their series of short videos about fighting lung cancer “with humor.”

The competition, which is part of a youth awareness campaign, was attended by 290 ESO first and fourth students from schools across Spain.

The first prize went to IES Santa Teresa (Badajoz) for the TikTok “Beauty salon is no longer popular”; second prize for the video “El Ruinavidas” from the school of Ramiro Izquierdo (Castellón) and third prize for the video “Ninjas Cazafumadores” IES Salvador Gadea in Aldaya (Valencia).