Certain behaviors or characteristics can increase the risk of head and neck cancer. Keep in mind that not everyone with one of these risk factors will get head and neck cancer, and some people with head and neck cancer do not have any of these risk factors.
- Tobacco use. About 85 percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use, including smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or dipping snuff.
- Alcohol use. Excessive alcohol drinking is the second main risk factor for head and neck cancer.
- Tobacco and alcohol used together. People who use both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk for head and neck cancer than those who use one but not both.
- Age and sex. Head and neck cancers are more common in men and in people older than 50.
- Airborne exposures in the workplace. Inhaling wood or nickel dust in the workplace increases risk for cancer of the sinuses, nasal cavity, and throat. Workplace exposure to asbestos in the air increases risk of throat cancer.
- HPV (human papillomavirus). Infection with this common, sexually transmitted virus has been linked to some sinus cavity cancers as well as throat cancer.
- Poor oral hygiene. Lack of oral hygiene increases the risk of throat cancer.
- Radiation to the head or neck. Radiation used in x-rays or in treatment of previous cancers can increase risk for cancer of the salivary glands.
- Ancestry. People of Asian, especially Chinese, ancestry are at greater risk for some throat cancers.
- Epstein-Barr virus infection. Infection with this virus increases risk for some throat cancers.
- Diet. Eating certain preservatives or salted foods has been linked to some throat cancers.
- Plummer-Vinson or Paterson-Kelly syndrome. People with this rare disorder are at increased risk for one type of throat cancer. The disorder is caused by iron and other nutritional deficiencies. People with this syndrome have severe anemia and webs of tissues that grow across the upper part of the esophagus.
- Sun exposure. Ultraviolet rays can contribute to cancers of the lip.
Learn more about head and neck cancer:
Contact Us
|
Careers
|
Make a Gift
|
Site Map
