It started with a simple question during a health seminar: “Is using plastic really that dangerous?” Dr. Smita Patil, a seasoned oncologist with over two decades of experience, paused—then gave an answer that left the audience stunned.

“Yes,” she said softly. “In many cases, it can be. Not immediately. Not visibly. But consistently, silently—and sometimes fatally.”

For years, plastic has been a part of our everyday lives. From bottled water to food containers, from packaging to cosmetics—plastic is everywhere. And yet, its long-term health impact, especially in relation to cancer, remains widely misunderstood or ignored.

Dr. Smita Patil has treated hundreds of patients with various types of cancer—breast, ovarian, colon, pancreatic—and she has seen a recurring pattern in many of their lives: high exposure to plastic, especially the kind that leaches chemicals when heated or reused.

“People think plastic is harmless because it’s convenient. But what they don’t realize is that some plastics, especially when heated or broken down, release chemicals like BPA (Bisphenol A), phthalates, and dioxins—all of which are linked to hormonal disruption and, in some studies, even cancer development,” she explains.

She tells the story of a young mother, only 34, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. There was no family history. No smoking, no alcohol, no typical risk factors. But she microwaved food in plastic every day, stored drinking water in reused bottles, and used plastic containers for hot meals.

“No one wants to believe plastic can cause cancer,” Dr. Patil says. “But we can no longer afford to ignore the correlations.”

The symptoms, according to her, don’t show up in direct connection to plastic exposure. Rather, they emerge subtly, masked by other causes. Fatigue. Lumps. Digestive issues. Irregular menstruation. Weight loss. By the time it’s diagnosed, it’s often advanced.

“I’ve had patients come in shocked, saying, ‘I eat healthy, I exercise. How could this happen?’ And when we trace their lifestyle—there it is. Decades of exposure to plastic in ways they never questioned,” she adds.

Beyond the anecdotal, Dr. Patil references growing medical literature that explores endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in plastics. These chemicals mimic estrogen in the body, which can trigger abnormal cell growth, especially in breast and prostate tissue.

“So many young women with hormone-sensitive cancers never thought twice about storing their hot soup in plastic or drinking from a bottle left in the sun,” she says.

When asked if plastic causes cancer directly, she clarifies:
“No, plastic isn’t a virus. It doesn’t cause cancer like an infection. But it can be a contributing factor, a trigger—especially in people with genetic predispositions or compromised immunity.”

Dr. Patil is not just about fear—she’s about prevention, awareness, and empowerment.

She offers simple, practical tips to lower exposure:

Stop microwaving food in plastic containers

Avoid drinking from plastic bottles left in the car or sun

Switch to glass, stainless steel, or ceramic for food and drink storage

Never reuse disposable plastic containers meant for single use

Be wary of canned foods with plastic linings

“I’m not saying live in fear,” she says. “I’m saying live informed. Make small changes now, so you don’t have to fight a war with your body later.”

For those already diagnosed with cancer, Dr. Patil emphasizes that lifestyle modifications are crucial during treatment, especially during chemotherapy.

“Chemo is hard on the body. Your immune system is low, your hormones are fragile. The last thing you need is to keep consuming toxins unknowingly,” she says.

In her clinic, patients undergoing treatment are given holistic guidance, not just prescriptions. They’re taught to eat from safe containers, filter their water, reduce environmental toxins, and practice mindful living.

“I’ve seen patients improve not just medically, but emotionally, when they feel like they have some control. Avoiding plastics becomes symbolic—it tells the body, ‘I’m protecting you now.’”

Perhaps one of the most emotional stories she shares is that of a teenage girl battling ovarian cancer. After two surgeries and six rounds of chemo, she looked at Dr. Patil and asked, “Will I ever be normal again?”

Dr. Patil held her hand and replied, “You will be stronger than normal. You will be aware. You will know what others ignore.”

Today, that girl is in remission, studying to become a dietitian, and helping others understand the connection between environment, lifestyle, and disease.

In the last decade, cancer rates among young people have been rising quietly but steadily, something Dr. Patil finds deeply alarming.

“We used to call cancer a disease of the old. Not anymore. Now I see patients in their 20s and 30s. Something has changed. And I believe part of it is in our environment—especially our dependence on plastic.”

She’s quick to acknowledge that plastic isn’t the sole villain. Genetics, pollution, diet, stress—they all play roles. But in a world full of uncontrollables, reducing plastic is one of the things we can actually control.

Her final words are chilling yet hopeful:
“We’re all living in a plastic world. But we still have the power to choose what we bring into our bodies. Start small. Because cancer doesn’t always knock—it sometimes seeps in drop by drop, through the choices we make every day.”

So the next time you reach for that microwavable container, or reuse that water bottle, remember what Dr. Smita Patil sees every day: the cost of convenience can sometimes be a life.