|
|
|
Dental Care Providers > About Oral Cancer
|
About Oral Cancer
|
Worldwide, more than 481,000 cases of oral cancer are
diagnosed annually.(
1 )
Unlike many other types of cancer, the incidence and mortality
rates of oral cancer have not shown significant improvement
over the past 30 years. In addition, increasing numbers
of Americans under 40 are being diagnosed with tongue
cancer, a significant percentage of whom have no risk
factors, and have never smoked or been heavy users
of alcohol.
Risk Factors
Oral cancer is associated with the following risk factors:
- Tobacco consumption (smoking; chewing etc.)
- Alcohol
- Age
- Gender
- Ethnicity
- Ultraviolet light
According to American Cancer Society, cigarette, cigar and
pipe smokers are six times more likely than non-smokers
to develop oral cancer. Smokers account for 90 percent
of oral cancer patients.
|
|
|
|