Head and Neck Cancer - Causes

Causes

Alcohol and tobacco use are the most common risk factors for head and neck cancer in the United States. Alcohol and tobacco are likely synergistic in causing cancer of the head and neck. Smokeless tobacco is an etiologic agent for oral and pharyngeal cancers (oropharyngeal cancer). Cigar smoking is an important risk factor for oral cancers as well. Other potential environmental carcinogens include occupational exposures such as nickel refining, exposure to textile fibers, and woodworking. In one large, controlled study, marijuana use was not shown to be associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma. In another study, marijuana use was shown to be a potential protective factor against the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. However, cigarette smokers have a lifetime increased risk for head and neck cancers that is 5- to 25-fold increased over the general population. The ex-smoker's risk for squamous cell cancer of the head and neck begins to approach the risk in the general population twenty years after smoking cessation. The high prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use worldwide and the high association of these cancers with these substances makes them ideal targets for enhanced cancer prevention.