What causes oral cancer?
The following may increase your risk of oral cancer:
- cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoking
- smokeless tobacco (e.g. plug, leaf, and snuff)
- excessive use of alcohol
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How common is oral cancer?
Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world. At least 30,000 new cases of oral and oropharyngeal cancers are diagnosed each year. Incidence rates are greater than 2:1 male-to-female for oral cavity cancers, and the rates are greatest in men over age 40.
Remission of cancers of the lip and oral cavity varies depending on the stage and specific site. Most patients who present with early cancers of the lip are highly curable by surgery or by radiation therapy, with cure rates of 90% to 100%.
Additional information is available from the American Cancer Society.
ASHA Leader articles
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See Also:
Oral Cancer
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