What are the risk factors for mouth cancer

A risk factor is anything that increases that likelihood of developing a disease or condition. For example, regular smoking increases the risk of developing lung cancer; therefore smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer. The risk factors for mouth cancer include:

• Smoking - studies indicate that a 40-per-day smoker has a risk five times great than a lifetime non-smoker of developing oral cancer.


• Chewing tobacco.


• Taking snuff (snorting tobacco).


• Both heavy and regular alcohol consumption - somebody who consumes an average of 30 pints of beer per week has a risk five times greater than a teetotaler or somebody who drinks moderately.


• Heavy smoking combined with heavy drinking - as tobacco and alcohol have a synergistic effect (their combined effect is greater than each one added together separately), people who drink and also smoke a lot have a significantly higher risk of developing oral cancer compared to others. Somebody who smokes 40 cigarettes per day AND consumes an average of 30 pints of beer a week is 38 times more likely to develop oral cancer compared to other people.


• Too much sun exposure on the lips, as well as sunlamps or sunbeds.


• Diet - people who consume lots of red meat, processed meat and fried foods are more likely to develop oral cancer than others.


• GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) - people with this digestive condition where acid from the stomach leaks back up through the gullet (esophagus) have a higher risk of oral cancer.


• HPV (human papillomavirus) infection.


• Prior radiation treatment (radiotherapy) in the head and/or neck area.


• Regularly chewing betel nuts - these nuts, from the betel palm tree, are popular in some parts of south east Asia. They are slightly addictive and are also carcinogenic.


• Exposure to certain chemicals - especially asbestos, sulphuric acid and formaldehyde.