Annually in the U.S., more than 8,650 people die from oral and pharyngeal cancers, while nearly 46,000 patients are diagnosed with them. Most major risk factors for these types of cancers are under your control, meaning that a few smart lifestyle choices go a long way toward preventing them. Early detection and immediate intervention can make a big difference in treatment success.
Oral Cancer Risk Factors
- Use of inhaled or chew tobacco products
- Having a daily average of 3 or more alcoholic drinks
- Being infected by HPV (human papilloma virus)
- Excessive unprotected lip exposure to UV radiation in sunlight or tanning aids
How to Lower Your Risk of Oral Cancer
- Quit smoking—or never start
- Don’t chew tobacco products
- Drink little to no alcohol
- Get vaccinated against HPV
- Limit your lips’ sun exposure by staying out of direct sunlight, wearing sun-protective lip applications, or shading your face with a large-brimmed hat
- Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
Encouraging Early Detection of Oral Cancer
- Oral cancers have no standard screening tests
- Go to regular dental and doctor appointments and ask for a checkup in and around your mouth for abnormalities that could be cancer or pre-cancerous
- Have any concerning discoveries biopsied
