Risk Factors

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Risk Factors

Tobacco/Alcohol/ Gutkha Use

Tobacco and excessive alcohol use increase the risk of oral cancer. Using both tobacco and alcohol poses a much greater risk than using either substance alone. Chewing tobacco in the form of Gutkha poses a great risk as well.

Highlights

Chemotherapy

Cancer and Children

Did You Know

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FAQs

Sunlight

Exposure to sunlight is a risk factor for lip cancer.

Age

Oral cancer is typically a disease of older people usually because of their longer exposure to risk factors. Incidence of oral cancer rises steadily with age, reaching a peak in persons age 64-74.

Gender

Oral cancer strikes men twice as often as it does women.

Signs and symptoms

Oral cancer usually occurs in people over the age of 45 but can develop at any age. These are some symptoms to look for:

A sore on the lip or in the mouth that does not heal;

	A lump on the lip or in the mouth or throat;
	A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth;
	Non-healing ulcer in the Buccal cavity or on the tongue;
	Unusual bleeding, pain, or numbness in the mouth;
	A sore throat that does not go away, or a feeling that something is caught in the throat;
	Difficulty or pain with chewing or swallowing;
	Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable;
	A change in the voice;
	Pain in the ear.

These symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious problems. It is important to see a dentist or doctor about any symptoms like these, so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

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