This paper has long campaigned about the dangers of smoking and encouraged any moves to try and help people give up, and we make no apologies for that.

But the two brave women who today speak out about their own cancer diagnoses as a result of tobacco use present a far more eloquent argument then we ever could.

Veronica Roberts smoked like a chimney until a tumour was discovered on her tongue. And Sunaban Bibi chewed tobacco for more than 20 years.

Both are fortunate in that they have survived. But both had to undergo intensive surgery and endure a terrifying ordeal.

There can be few smokers left who are unaware of just how dangerous their addiction can be.

What may be more surprising is the risk of smokeless tobacco, which encompasses more than 30 types of products including chewing and sucking tobacco.

Cases of mouth cancer in the UK have increased by 41pe rcent in ten years.

The biggest cause still remains smoking, but health chiefs are also keen to stress the dangers posed by smokeless tobacco, particularly because it is commonly used in the South Asian community.

The use of tobacco obviously remains a choice, but those who make that choice are gambling with their health, with figures showing that more than half of long-term smokers die early.

Smokers make a choice, but their friends and families who might be left behind or have to watch them suffer don’t have that luxury.

And as frightening and painful as the ordeal suffered by Mrs Bibi and Mrs Roberts was, they were the lucky ones. They are still around to tell their tale. Many will not be so fortunate.