Risk Factors for Oral cancer
List of Risk Factors for Oral cancer
The list of risk factors mentioned for Oral cancer
in various sources
includes:
Risk factors discussion:
Taking Care of Your Teeth and Mouth - Age Page - Health Information: NIA (Excerpt)
People who smoke cigarettes, use other tobacco products, or
drink excessive amounts of alcohol are at increased risk for oral
cancer. (Source: excerpt from Taking Care of Your Teeth and Mouth - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)
What You Need To Know About Cancer - An Overview: NCI (Excerpt)
Cigarette
smokers are also more likely than nonsmokers to develop
several other types of cancer, including oral cancer and
cancers of the larynx, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, kidney,
and cervix. Smoking may also increase the likelihood of
developing cancers of the stomach, liver, prostate, colon,
and rectum. The risk of cancer begins to decrease soon after
a smoker quits, and the risk continues to decline gradually
each year after quitting. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Cancer - An Overview: NCI)
What You Need To Know About Cancer - An Overview: NCI (Excerpt)
People who smoke cigars or pipes have a risk for cancers
of the oral cavity that is similar to the risk for people
who smoke cigarettes. Cigar smokers also have an increased
chance of developing cancers of the lung, larynx, esophagus,
and pancreas. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Cancer - An Overview: NCI)
What You Need To Know About Cancer - An Overview: NCI (Excerpt)
The use of smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco and snuff)
causes cancer of the mouth and throat. Precancerous
conditions, tissue changes that may lead to cancer, often
begin to go away after a person stops using smokeless
tobacco. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Cancer - An Overview: NCI)
What You Need To Know About Oral Cancer: NCI (Excerpt)
Two known causes of oral cancer are tobacco and
alcohol use.
Tobacco use -- smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes;
chewing tobacco; or dipping snuff -- accounts for 80 to 90
percent of oral cancers. A number of studies have shown that
cigar and pipe smokers have the same risk as cigarette
smokers. Studies indicate that smokeless tobacco users are at
particular risk of developing oral cancer. For long-time
users, the risk is much greater, making the use of snuff or
chewing tobacco among young people a special concern.
People who stop using tobacco -- even after many years of
use -- can greatly reduce their risk of oral cancer. Special
counseling or self-help groups may be useful for those who are
trying to give up tobacco. Some hospitals have groups for
people who want to quit. Also, the Cancer Information Service
and the American Cancer Society may have information about
groups in local areas to help people quit using tobacco.
Chronic and/or heavy use of alcohol also increases the risk
of oral cancer, even for people who do not use tobacco.
However, people who use both alcohol and tobacco have an
especially high risk of oral cancer. Scientists believe that
these substances increase each other's harmful effects.
Cancer of the lip can be caused by exposure to the sun. The
risk can be avoided with the use of a lotion or lip balm
containing a sunscreen. Wearing a hat with a brim can also
block the sun's harmful rays. Pipe smokers are especially
prone to cancer of the lip.
Some studies have shown that many people who develop oral
cancer have a history of leukoplakia ,
a whitish patch inside the mouth. The causes of leukoplakia
are not well understood, but it is commonly associated with
heavy use of tobacco and alcohol. The condition often occurs
in irritated areas, such as the gums and mouth lining of
smokeless tobacco users and the lower lip of pipe smokers.
Another condition, erythroplakia ,
appears as a red patch in the mouth. Erythroplakia occurs most
often in people 60 to 70 years of age. Early diagnosis and
treatment of leukoplakia and erythroplakia are important
because cancer may develop in these patches. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Oral Cancer: NCI)
Risks factors for Oral cancer: medical news summaries:
The following medical news items
are relevant to risk factors for Oral cancer:
About risk factors:
Risk factors for Oral cancer are factors that do not seem
to be a direct cause of the disease,
but seem to be associated in some way.
Having a risk factor for Oral cancer
makes the chances
of getting a condition higher but does
not always lead to Oral cancer.
Also, the absence of any risk factors
or having a protective factor does not necessarily
guard you against getting Oral cancer.
For general information and a list of risk factors,
see the risk center.
"I never use an exfoliant in the morning", "I always use a heavy moisturizer before going to bed". We each have our own long-held beliefs about our...
Since childhood you've learned that brushing and flossing should be part of your daily routine to prevent the buildup of plaque. Join us for a...
Since childhood you've learned that brushing and flossing should be part of your daily routine to prevent the buildup of plaque. Join us for a...
Even the bravest among us grow fearful when the dentist says "cavity" through that paper mask. In this program, our experts offer you some thoughts...
See full list of 4 related videos
» Next page: Symptoms of Oral cancer
Rate This Website
What do you think about the features of this website?
Take our user survey and have your say:
Website User Survey
Medical Tools & Articles:
Next articles:
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Forums & Message Boards
- Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
