Risk Factors and Prevention

A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing cancer. Some risk factors can be controlled, such as smoking, and some cannot be controlled, such as age and family history. Although risk factors can influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause cancer. Some people with several risk factors never develop cancer, while others with no known risk factors do. However, knowing your risk factors and communicating them to your doctor may help you make more informed lifestyle and health-care choices.

Two factors greatly increase the risk of oral and oropharyngeal cancer:

Tobacco use. Use of tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, and snuff, is the single largest risk factor for head and neck cancer. Pipe smoking is particularly linked to cancer in the part of the lips that contact the pipe stem. Chewing tobacco or snuff is associated with a 50% increase in risk of cancers of the cheeks, gums, and inner surface of the lips where the tobacco has the most contact.

Alcohol. Frequent and heavy consumption of alcohol increases the risk of head and neck cancer.

Eighty-five percent (85%) of head and neck cancer is linked to tobacco use. Using alcohol and tobacco together increases this risk even more. Recent studies have suggested that people who have used marijuana may be at higher than average risk for head and neck cancer. Second-hand smoke may also increase a person’s risk of head and neck cancer.

Other factors can raise a person’s risk of oral and oropharyngeal cancer include:

Prolonged sun exposure. Prolonged sun exposure is linked to cancer in the lip area.

Human papillomavirus (HPV). Research indicates that infection with this virus is a risk factor for oral and oropharyngeal cancer. HPV is passed from person to person during sexual intercourse. There are different types, or strains, of HPV, and some strains are more strongly associated with certain types of head and neck cancers.

Gender. Men are more likely to develop lip cancer than women.

Fair skin. Fair skin is linked to a higher risk of lip cancer.

Age. People over 45 are at increased risk for oral cancer, although this type of cancer can develop in people of any age.

Oral hygiene. People with poor oral hygiene/dental care may have an increased risk of oral cavity cancer. Poor dental health or ongoing irritation from poorly fitting dentures, especially in people who use alcohol and tobacco products, may contribute to the promotion of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

Poor diet/nutrition. A diet low in fruits and vegetables, a vitamin A deficiency, and chewing betel nuts (a nut containing a mild stimulant that is popular in Asia) increase the risk of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

Weakened immune system. People with a weakened immune system have a higher risk of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

Prevention and Early Detection

Use of tobacco and alcohol, in addition to poor oral hygiene (dental decay), are the most significant risk factors that contribute to the development of this type of cancer. Although some of the risk factors for oral and oropharyngeal cancer cannot be controlled, several can be avoided by making lifestyle changes. Stopping the use of tobacco products is the most important thing a person can do, even for people who have been smoking for many years.

To reduce your risk of lip cancer, reduce your exposure to sunlight and other sources of ultraviolent (UV) light. For more information, read the Cancer.Net Feature: Protecting Your Skin From the Sun.

To reduce your risk of HPV infection, limit the number of sex partners, because having many partners increases the risk of HPV infection. Using a condom cannot fully protect you from HPV during sex.

Regular dental examinations by a dentist are helpful in finding oral cavity cancer and some oropharyngeal cancers at an earlier stage.