Nicotine causes nonsmokers to suffer
Nicotine causes nonsmokers to suffer
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Dina Rahmawati has never smoked a cigarette, but she spent her
childhood surrounded by smokers and now suffers from larynx
cancer.
She had a relatively healthy lifestyle, but was suddenly
diagnosed with the life-threatening disease eight years ago. She
was 45 then.
"My husband does not smoke, but my father and my brothers did.
I've been exposed to cigarette smoke since the day I was born. I
have been a passive smoker and I now suffer from larynx cancer,
will for the rest of my life," Dina, a housewife, explained
during a seminar on smoking and cancer held by the National
Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN) on Tuesday.
Her doctor told her the cancer had been spreading in her
larynx for more than 10 years before it was detected.
She found out that cancer had so deteriorated her larynx that
not even surgery could help her.
She has takes medicine four times a month to prevent the
cancer from spreading and to kill the pain she feels whenever she
breathes and eats. Her treatment cost her Rp 1.2 million (US$131)
per month.
"I want to plead with all smokers, please quit the habit.
Smoking will not only make you suffer, but also people around you
and people that you love," said Dina in tears.
Larynx cancer is one of the diseases commonly found among
smokers, either active or passive like Dina.
Sri Susilawati of the Indonesian Cancer Foundation said
symptoms of the disease might be a bit confusing, such as husky
voice and cough, which people might mistakenly take for an
ordinary cough.
"Many are diagnosed when it is in the late stages. If it is
caught at an early stage, surgery might help," she said.
Pulmonologist Tjandra Yoga Aditama said lung cancer was the
most common cancer associated with smoking.
"Active smokers are 14 times more vulnerable to lung cancer
than nonsmokers," Tjandra told the seminar.
He said many more passive smokers could suffer from smoking-
related diseases.
"Active smokers account for 31.4 percent of the population or
about 63 million people in Indonesia. So one can imagine how many
passive smokers there are among the population," Tjandra said.
BKKBN chairwoman Sumarjati Arjoso said lung cancer was the
biggest killer disease among men, and cervix cancer in women.
"Smoking or being a passive smoker during pregnancy could also
threaten the baby's life, at the very least it will be born
underweight," she added.
The government enacted regulation No. 38/2000 on protection of
people from the dangers of tobacco. It contained restrictions on
the nicotine content to 0.2 milligrams and the tar content to 15
milligrams per cigarette.
It lasted only three years as the government lifted the
nicotine and tar restriction through Regulation No. 19/2003, in
the interest of cigarette producers.
The cigarette industry has contributed an average of Rp 27
trillion to state revenues a year employs 4 million workers, who
may also suffer if the industry had a downturn.
Indonesia is the only country in Asia that has not signed the
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) that obliges
signatories to enact comprehensive tobacco control legislation.
Despite the less stringent antitobacco regulation, many public
places, such as offices, shopping malls, restaurants and cafes,
have declared themselves non-smoking areas.
Tjandra said education would play a big role in the campaign
to reduce the hazards of tobacco on people's health.
"Some people do not understand they are not allowed to smoke
in an air-conditioned room, for example. Instead of putting out
their cigarette, they might become angry when someone asks them
to do so," said Tjandra.