Oral Cancer Risk Factors
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Understanding Oral Cancer Risk Factors
An oral cancer risk factor is anything that may affect the likelihood of developing the disease. Some people may have one or more of these risk factors and never develop oral cancer. However, in rare cases, the disease may develop without a person having any known oral cancer risk factors. Nonetheless, understanding the risk factors is an important part of managing your health and well-being.
About 90 percent of oral cancers develop in the lining of mouth, in a type of thin, flat cell called squamous cells. The inside of the mouth comes into direct contact with many of the substances that we ingest or inhale.
Tobacco, a known carcinogen, may harm or damage the cells in the mouth when it is inhaled as smoke or consumed in other forms, like snuff or chew. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 90 percent of all oral cancers are related to some form of tobacco use. Other substances, like alcohol, when consumed on a frequent basis, may also pose a risk.
The combination of tobacco and alcohol is thought to raise the risk 100 times over for those who smoke and drink compared to those who do neither.The drinking and smoking habits of men may be linked to an increased incidence of oral cancer in men as compared to women.
Aside from quitting smoking and drinking in moderation, eating a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables may decrease the risk of developing oral cancer.
Risk Factors for Oral Cancer
The known risk factors for oral cancer are:
- Tobacco use (smoking cigarettes or cigars, chewing tobacco, and other forms)
- Drinking alcohol frequently
- Poor nutrition and vitamin deficiencies
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
In addition to the known risk factors of oral cancer, there are also pre-cancerous conditions that can develop into cancer. Potentially pre-cancerous conditions include:
- Leukoplakia (white spots in the mouth)
- Erythroplakia (red spots in the mouth that are sometimes raised and easily bleed)
- Erythroleukoplakia (a combination of both red and white spots)
NOTE: Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer. Not having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will not get cancer. If you think you may be at risk, you should discuss it with your doctor.
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