Oral Cancer: Who's at Risk?

Oral Cancer: Who's at Risk?

Historically, most of the patients are above 40 years of age at the time of discovery of oral cancer. Aging is an important factor because the immunity diminishes with age as well as there are increased chances for the cells turning from benign to malignant tumor cells. This is further supported by the fact released recently in 2008 which says that oral cancer exists even among the non smokers who are below 50 years of age.

Predominantly the cause for oral cancer is attributed to the factors like the use of tobacco, consumption of alcohol and infection by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Among all these different causes, tobacco is considered to be the primary culprit although it takes a long time to get precipitated into an oral cancer. Especially the people who are above 50 years of age are widely affected and more than 75% of those people are constant users of tobacco. Tobacco in combination with alcohol is even more harmful and the chances are 15 times more for oral cancer if a person is addictive to both tobacco and alcohol. Recent reports also suggest that the demographics are changing rapidly as the incidence of oral cancer caused by viral infections is increasing day by day.

The factors for the cause of oral cancer can be grouped as physical factors, chemical factors and biological factors. Alcohol and tobacco comes under chemical factors. Ultraviolet (UV) rays and x-rays are the major physical factors responsible for causing oral cancer. UV rays cause lip or skin cancers. Radiographs in x-rays can cause various types of neck or head cancers. Now days, there is more awareness towards physical factors and the percentage of people getting affected by this has drastically reduced over the past few decades.

Biological factors indicate the fungi and the viruses which has a major link towards causing oral cancer. Human Papilloma Virus16 which spreads through sexual transmission causes oral cancers in tonsils, base of tongue, oropharnyx and tonsillar crypt. About 40 million people from America are found to be infected by this virus. There are nearly 120 strains of Human papilloma virus. Among them HPV16 is found to be more harmful and a potential cancer causing agent. HPV16 also causes cervical cancer, cancer in penis and anus. This virus is suspected to spread even more in the near future because of the increase in sexual intercourse among younger generation in the last 10 to 15 years.

There are also other minor factors which can cause oral cancer like lichen planus (a disease that causes inflammation of tissues in the oral cavity), improper diet with less vegetables and fruits etc. The risk for oral cancer due to these factors is very marginal and it is less likely that it contributes to the development of cancer.