Oral cancer can strike anyone, but there are certain factors than can increase your risk. Some of those factors include:
Gender: Although this seems to be decreasing, oral cancer and oropharyngeal cancer–which includes cancers found on the soft palate, the base of the tongue, the tonsils, and the pharynx–are twice as common in men as in women.
Age: Two-thirds of patients who present with oral cancer are over 55.
Tobacco use: About 80 percent of people who develop oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers are tobacco users whether in the form of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or snuff.
Alcohol: Of those patients diagnosed with oral cancer, about 70 percent heavily consume alcohol. For those people who both drink and smoke heavily, the risk is two-fold.
Human papillomavirus (HPV): The HPV virus, which has been linked to cervical cancer, is also a risk factor for oral and oropharyngeal cancers.
Oral cancer often presents as lesions, or red or white patches on the:
Other symptoms can include:
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