Links To Snus & Health Medical Studies/Manufacturer Info

[lynx23]

I would actually appreciate it greatly if, for a change, some of you snus worshippers, highlighted some of the negative effects snus can have on our bodies. I have a friend from Helsingborg who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We talk quite frequently and even the doctors at the Oncology center told him that his cancer is most likely due to his heavy snus usage since the age of 17. This is not just by some freak chance but reports/rates of pancreatic cancer in younger patients in Sweden is climbing steadily in the recent years.

I'm not surprised at all that snus manufacturers are busy manufacturing so much more than just snus and you guys are just nodding with your heads....

[lynx23]

sorry for ranting in anger but it had to be said. There is just so little contrast here, but hey what did I expect from a snus board.
I am a fan of the 'balanced view' on things....

[Snusdog]

I would actually appreciate it greatly if, for a change, some of you snus worshippers, highlighted some of the negative effects snus can have on our bodies.

I think it would be wise for you first to consider the context from which most members on this site approach snus before you presume to be the voice of balance and reason

Most of our members have come to snus from cigarettes. I do not think that anyone would argue that the health concerns surrounding snus are significantly less than those surrounding smoking.

For most of our members then to create a health scare regarding snus (in a world that already misrepresents harm reduction in an egregious way) would not be to present a balanced view. Rather, it would serve to de-incentivize people to quit smoking and all but insure they continue down a far more deadly path.

In turn merely saying "I have a friend whose doctor said....." is hardly balanced, informative, or the sort of information that one should base public policy or private decisions on. At best it is anecdotal........at worst it is reckless.

The risk of pancreatic cancer and its correlation with snus has been studied and it is not a topic that we as a forum have avoided or hushed. If you would like to find a true balance approach to this subject backed by the latest international science you can read the actual scientific studies where the correlation between snus and pancreatic cancer are addressed. You will find those studies publicly posted in our health section. That is why they are there....we want our members to be informed......not consumers of propaganda.

If you want the short version of the findings of those studies....simply go read the warning label on your snus can........believe me If they could (for any remote reason) have put the word cancer on your tin they would have.

Over and again the message of this forum is that: (1) if you are not addicted to nicotine please don't become addicted (2) there is no such thing as a 100% "safe" addictive property (3) that said, if you are already addicted to cigarettes, snus is a far healthier and safer option that can help you quit doing drastic harm to your health and the health of those around you

So without creating an unbalanced scare, we provide a non-sensationalized approach to snus and harm reduction....as well as the latest science (warts and all) to back it up.......and we make that all public for anyone who cares to take the time to be responsibly informed.

Peace
Dog

[lxskllr]

The doctor's claim that snus caused the pancreatic cancer was specious, and unfounded. The claim that pancreatic cancer rates are rising in Sweden is factually incorrect. No one has claimed snus is harmless. It's on par with other minor vices people partake in throughout life.

Regardless of how one enjoys life, they won't live forever. The only thing that matters is enjoying the time here. That's up to each individual.

[squeezyjohn]

Firstly let me say that I too am sorry to hear of your friend lynx, and would echo all the other points raised by the previous three posters. We, here at snuson are eager to only deal in facts and to educate ourselves in both the dangers of snus as well as the relative benefits when compared to the outcomes of smoking. Of course we also enjoy our snus - it is our vice! But I don't think you can accuse us of avoiding the issues when it comes to trying to understand the risks involved.

There is very real evidence that prolonged regular snus use doubles the chance of contracting pancreatic cancer from 0.004% to 0.009% and we have discussed this many times. It is a similar increase to the one shown for smokers and is a result of the strain on the system from increasing blood sugar spikes in response to the nicotine rather than due to the carcinogenic properties of tobacco itself. There is also a small increase in risk of mouth and throat cancers from using some snus which due to storage and processing issues can contain higher levels of TSNAs than the recommended guidelines in the Swedish Gothiatek standards.

As stated - because there are these increased risks of life-threatening conditions using snus as compared to non-tobacco users, SnusOn has had a great record of coming down hard on anyone we encounter on these forums who are looking to start tobacco use for the first time. Generally, outside Scandinavia, there are very few people tempted to use snus who aren't already nicotine addicts most of which smoke or use the more damaging American smokeless tobaccos. Many people who smoke or use dip and chew are unable to successfully give these products up through a 'cold turkey' process, and for them changing to Swedish Snus is a positive and potentially life-prolonging step according to all the evidence available.

I don't think that SnusOn has anything to apologise for here. But it's good for people like you to come on and occasionally remind us that using snus is not 100% safe (in the same way that drinking too much coffee or too much sugar in the diet is also a bad thing).

[squeezyjohn]

Also Lxskllr is also correct in questioning the oncologist's assumption that the pancreatic cancer is "most likely" caused by snus. There is a 50% chance that your friend's cancer is caused by snus, and a 50% chance that he is simply a very unlucky person. If he didn't use snus there would be a 100% chance that he is very unlucky ... either way it is very sad.

[Premium Parrots]

Also Lxskllr is also correct in questioning the oncologist's assumption that the pancreatic cancer is "most likely" caused by snus. There is a 50% chance that your friend's cancer is caused by snus, and a 50% chance that he is simply a very unlucky person. If he didn't use snus there would be a 100% chance that he is very unlucky ... either way it is very sad.

Good posts guys. But squeezy, there is not a 50% chance his friend got pancreatic cancer from snus. Its actually a way way way lower chance.

also squeezy I have personally contacted the admin to see what he can do to speed up the site in your country. In the USA [or at least for me] snuson is quite fast.

carry on

[Burnsey]

I would actually appreciate it greatly if, for a change, some of you snus worshippers, highlighted some of the negative effects snus can have on our bodies. I have a friend from Helsingborg who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We talk quite frequently and even the doctors at the Oncology center told him that his cancer is most likely due to his heavy snus usage since the age of 17. This is not just by some freak chance but reports/rates of pancreatic cancer in younger patients in Sweden is climbing steadily in the recent years.

I'm not surprised at all that snus manufacturers are busy manufacturing so much more than just snus and you guys are just nodding with your heads....

I too am sorry about your friend lynx, I hope he can fight the good fight ......

[lynx23]

Thanks for your posts guys, I now realized that my post was more emotional than rational. I suppose I'm just looking for something to blame and snus comes to mind... Thanks for the sympathy. My judgement towards the community here is unfounded. I apologize, I didn't want to tread on anyone's toes here.

I wonder if the risk of developing pancreatic cancer increases further with the use of stronger 'sterk' snus as opposed to using lower nic. level snus.

[squeezyjohn]

Sorry PP - I think I know how the maths goes. If the studies show that there is a 0.004% chance (that's a one in 25,000 chance) of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer under normal non-snusing conditions and that rises to a 0.009% chance (that's a one in 11,000 chance) of being diagnosed as a snus user, then the statistics show that a diagnosis in a snus user will be due to the snus use in 56% of the cases.

If you plug in the figures for smokers then a diagnosis in a smoker will be due to smoking in 69% of the cases.

While figures like one in 25000 and one in 11000 are very small risks compared to most things in life ... it doesn't change the fact that the risk of getting this particular cancer is more than double when using snus (and it is more than treble when smoking).

PS - I've not been having any problems with the speed of SnusOn loading here ... excellent service as always.

[lxskllr]

I wonder if the risk of developing pancreatic cancer increases further with the use of stronger 'sterk' snus as opposed to using lower nic. level snus.

I think that comes under the category of "possibly". Tobacco's relationship to pancreatic cancer isn't greatly known, but one possibility is that it's caused by a metabolite of nicotine(NNK). If that's correct, then more nicotine would increase the likelihood of pancreatic cancer.

You might like to read this...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3961826/

It deals specifically with smoking, but some of the findings may relate to snus also. The question I have is does NNK form without combustion? It forms in fermented tobacco, but not so much in snus. If it's created in the body, then it's a possibility.

[Premium Parrots]

Sorry PP - I think I know how the maths goes. If the studies show that there is a 0.004% chance (that's a one in 25,000 chance) of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer under normal non-snusing conditions and that rises to a 0.009% chance (that's a one in 11,000 chance) of being diagnosed as a snus user, then the statistics show that a diagnosis in a snus user will be due to the snus use in 56% of the cases.

If you plug in the figures for smokers then a diagnosis in a smoker will be due to smoking in 69% of the cases.

While figures like one in 25000 and one in 11000 are very small risks compared to most things in life ... it doesn't change the fact that the risk of getting this particular cancer is more than double when using snus (and it is more than treble when smoking).

PS - I've not been having any problems with the speed of SnusOn loading here ... excellent service as always.

sorry squeezy I must have been sleep moderating .... I see what you mean now about the percentages. I read a recent study that said it was 1 in 100,000 that may end up with pancreatic cancer if they used snus. AND it was Frosted that mentioned the site was slow for him. I'm in a fog, too many crisis going on in my life atm to think straight....or even read straight.

[Skell18]

Way off topic but I am having similar issues to frosty, I can access the forum but it's just very, very slow. When I try and post it hang for a while, then says the message I have entered is too short, like I am posting nothing. If I hit back I can post it but I have to do it every time I want to post!! Also threads take an age to load as does navigating the site.

I use my ipad pad and nothing has changed on that (that I know of) I either access it on wifi or on the 3G when I'm out of wifi range.

[kerlin219]

Thanks for your posts guys, I now realized that my post was more emotional than rational. I suppose I'm just looking for something to blame and snus comes to mind... Thanks for the sympathy. My judgement towards the community here is unfounded. I apologize, I didn't want to tread on anyone's toes here.

I wonder if the risk of developing pancreatic cancer increases further with the use of stronger 'sterk' snus as opposed to using lower nic. level snus.

Probably not nic same as caffeine a mild neuro toxin , also same as fluoride which they put in your water it's the other crap in tobacco which does the damage especially with cigs with all the additives

[Snusdog]

Thanks for your posts guys, I now realized that my post was more emotional than rational. I suppose I'm just looking for something to blame and snus comes to mind... Thanks for the sympathy. My judgement towards the community here is unfounded. I apologize, I didn't want to tread on anyone's toes here.

I wonder if the risk of developing pancreatic cancer increases further with the use of stronger 'sterk' snus as opposed to using lower nic. level snus.

No problem mate and I too want to add my thoughts and well wishes for your friend. I hope his will be a quick and full recovery.

Peace
DOG