This took place during the Regional Annual Assembly of the Egyptian Scientific Society of Bronchology (virtual conference)
During his participation in the 19th Regional Annual Assembly of the Egyptian Scientific Society of Bronchology (ESSB) in collaboration with the Chest Department at Ain Shams University, Khayat stressed that the carcinogens in cigarette smoke are caused by burning tobacco, which generates smoke. “Tobacco smoke contains more than 6,000 chemicals and ultrafine particles. Heating tobacco at 350 degrees C instead of burning it decrease the emission of a wide array of chemicals,” he said.
In a lecture he gave during the virtual conference, he explained that the greater amount of carcinogens you are exposed to, the higher the risk of cancer. “If you want to reduce the exposure to carcinogens, you must identify the nature, production, and exposure source of carcinogens. The ideal solution for smokers to avoid lung cancer is to immediately quit smoking,” he added.
“Quitting is hard, even for people with cancer. 64% of smokers diagnosed with cancer continue to smoke. So to reduce the harmful consequences of this behavior, stop burning tobacco, shift to e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products or snus, while maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding obesity, practicing physical activity, getting exposed to the sun, and using anti-carcinogens,” said Khayat.
Khayat also highlighted that using nicotine inhalers, e-cigarettes, and heat not burn products, may lowers the mean lifetime cancer risk, in comparison with conventional smoking. He explained that these new devices may help reduce harm, although the ultimate goal is to completely quit smoking.
Khayat
emphasized that doctors are keen on eliminating smoking related diseases, not
smoking as a behavior. “ln July 2020, FDA authorized modified risk tobacco
product with reduced exposure claim (MRTPA). FDA determined that “the
exposure modification order for IQOS would be appropriate to promote public
health, and is expected to benefit the health of the population as a whole.
They say that this is because no combustion occurs in IQOS, IQOS emits reduced
levels of toxicants compared to conventional cigarettes, IQOS has a lower
toxic potential than cigarettes, and smokers who switch completely to IQOS reduce their exposure to toxicants. Although risk reduction has not yet been demonstrated, a substantial and measurable reduction in morbidity and mortality is reasonably likely in subsequent studies,” concluded Khayat.
Professor David Khayat Biography– A French emblematic voice in Cancer fight
- David Khayat, 59 years old, Professor of Oncology at Pierre et Marie Curie University (Paris), Head of Medical Oncology at La Pitié-Salpétrière Hospital (Paris) is the French most famous oncologist.
- Pr. David Khayat devoted himself to the fight against Cancer for more than 30 years.
- Since then Pr. Khayat has always had a key role to raise people’s and French public authorities awareness on Cancer.
- Thus in 2000 he initiated the “Paris Charter against Cancer” officially supported by the former President Jacques Chirac and the UNESCO. This Charter led to the creation of the World No Cancer Day and to the creation of the InCa IE “French National Institute Against Cancer”.
- Former counsellor of President Chirac (2002-2004), he managed the launch of the first Cancer Plan (2003- 2009) in France.
- Pr. Khayat was head of the InCa (2004-2006) and he is still its honorary president.
- Foundator of the “AVEC” foundation (Life and Hope Against Cancer Association) which was recognized as promoting the public interest in 2013.
2- A worldwide leading figure in Oncology
- In
2001 Pr. Khayat was appointed as adjunct professor of medicine at the MD
Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas in
Houston.
- Pr. Khayat is member of famous American Cancer Societies e.g. American Association for Cancer Research and American Association of Immunologists. In 2013 he was elected at the board of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which is a world reference in the field of Oncology.
- Pr. Khayat was recently appointed as member of Russian Sciences Academy (January’14).
3- Awards and publications
- Pr. David Khayat
received the French highest distinctions e.g. “Légion d’Honneur” (2007).
- He was also awarded by several distinctions and prices in the world e.g. American Society of Clinical Oncology Distinguished Achievement Award (2001), American Society of Clinical Oncology Special Award (2005), American Association Cancer Research Public Service Award (2000).
- Pr. David Khayat published a wide range of scientific books in France on different topics related to Cancer. However, he also published several books for general audience e.g. “the real anti-cancer diet” (2010) which has become a real best-seller.
- Then in 2014 he published the second volume “Preventing Cancer: this also depends on you” in which he addressed the topic of harm reduction. At this occasion he called for a new approach of public health in France that would be largely based on the reduction of risks concept.