Oral cancer is sometimes associated with known risk factors for the disease.
Many risk factors can be modified but not all can be avoided.
Tobacco and alcohol use:
Tobacco use (cigarettes, pipes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco) is
responsible for most cases of oral cancer. Alcohol, particularly beer and
hard liquor, are associated with an increased risk of developing oral
cancer. The risk of developing oral cancer is higher in people who use both
tobacco and alcohol. Avoiding or stopping the use of tobacco decreases the
risk of oral cancer. It is not known if stopping the use of alcohol
decreases the risk of oral cancer.
Sun exposure: Exposure to sunlight may increase the risk of lip cancer,
which occurs most often on the lower lip. Avoiding the sun and/or using a
sunscreen or colored lipstick on the lips may decrease the risk of lip
cancer.
Other factors: Some studies suggest that being infected with the human
papillomavirus (HPV) may increase the risk of oral cancer.
Chemoprevention: Chemoprevention is the use of drugs, vitamins, or other
agents to prevent or delay the growth of cancer or to keep it from coming
back. Tobacco users who have had oral cancer often develop second cancers in
the oral cavity or nearby areas, including the nose, throat, vocal cords,
esophagus, and windpipe. Studies of chemoprevention in oral cancer are under
way, including chemoprevention of leukoplakia and erythroplakia.
This booklet is about cancers that occur in the mouth (oral cavity) and
the part of the throat at the back of the mouth (oropharynx). The oral
cavity and oropharynx have many parts:
Cancer
begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues
make up the organs of the body.
Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them.
When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place.
Sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. New cells
form when the body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they
should. These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or
tumor.
Generally, benign tumors can be removed, and they
usually do not grow back.
Cells from benign tumors do not invade the tissues around
them.
Cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
Malignant tumors are
cancer:
Malignant tumors are generally more serious than
benign tumors. They may be life-threatening.
Malignant tumors often can be removed, but
sometimes they grow back.
Cells from malignant tumors can invade and damage
nearby tissues and organs.
Cells from malignant tumors can
spread to other parts of the body. The cells spread by breaking away from
the original cancer (primary tumor) and entering the bloodstream or
lymphatic system. They invade other organs, forming new tumors and damaging
these organs. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.
Oral cancer
Oral cancer is part of a group of
cancers called head and neck cancers.
Oral cancer can develop in any part of the oral cavity or oropharynx. Most
oral cancers begin in the tongue and in the floor of the mouth. Almost all
oral cancers begin in the flat cells (squamous cells) that cover the
surfaces of the mouth, tongue, and lips. These cancers are called squamous
cell carcinomas.
When oral cancer spreads (metastasizes), it usually travels through
the lymphatic system.
Cancer cells that enter the lymphatic system are
carried along by lymph, a clear, watery fluid. The cancer cells often
appear first in nearby lymph nodes in the neck.
Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the neck,
the lungs, and other parts of the body. When this happens, the new tumor has the
same kind of abnormal cells as the primary tumor. For example, if oral cancer
spreads to the lungs, the cancer cells in the lungs are actually oral cancer
cells. The disease is metastatic oral cancer, not lung
cancer. It is treated as oral cancer, not lung cancer. Doctors sometimes
call the new tumor "distant" or metastatic disease.
There are a variety of diseases and conditions that can cause tongue problems, discoloration, and soreness. Though most tongue problems are not serious. Conditions such as leukoplakia, oral thrush, and oral lichen planus may cause a white tongue while Kawasaki syndrome, scarlet fever, and geographic tongue may cause the tongue to appear red. A black hairy tongue may be caused by overgrown papillae on the tongue. Canker sores, smoking, and trauma may cause soreness of the tongue.
Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.
Toothache usually refers to pain around the teeth or jaws. In most instances, toothaches are caused by tooth or jaw problems, such as a dental cavity, a cracked tooth, an exposed tooth root, gum disease, disease of the jaw joint (TMJ), or spasms of the muscles used for chewing. A toothache can also be caused by a problem that does not originate from a tooth or the jaw, like diseases of the heart (angina or heart attack), ear infections, and sinus infections. A thorough oral examination, which includes dental X-rays, can help determine the cause.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. HPV is primarily transmitted by sexual contact. While some people develop warts in the genital region after infection, others experience no symptoms. Though genital warts can be removed, there is no cure for HPV infection. There is a vaccine to prevent infection from four common HPV types.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
The HPV virus (genital warts) in men can cause health problems. Genital warts are confined primarily to the moist skin of the genitals or around the anus. Genital warts are caused by the human papillomaviruses (HPVs), which are transmitted through sexual contact.
Head and neck cancer is cancer of the oral cavity, salivary glands, paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, or lymph nodes in the upper part of the neck. These cancers account for 3% to 5% of cancers in the U.S. Tobacco and alcohol use are important risk factors. Treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy.
Leukoplakia is a white or gray patch that develops on the tongue or inside the cheek. Causes of Leukoplakia may include irritation from rough teeth fillings or crowns, chronic smoking, sun exposure to the lips, or HIV or AIDS.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Smokeless tobacco can have negative health effects such as cancers, poor oral health (gum disease and tooth decay), infertility, pregnancy complications, and nicotine addiction.
Fighting the effects of aging-on the outside. Your guide to the risks of
cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures
Trying to fight the effects of aging? Below is a basic guide to the risks
involved in both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. For more
information on each procedure, click on the highlighted links of the procedure.
Cosmetic Procedures: Surgical
Breast Augmentation - Breasts are enlarged by placing an implant
behind each breast.
Risks:
implants can rupture, leak, and deflate
infection
hardening of scar tissue around implant, causing
breast firmness, pain, distorted shape, or implant movement
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