Head and Neck Cancer Causes and Risk Factors

Head and neck cancer starts from abnormal cell growth and can develop in the mouth, throat, nose, sinuses, salivary glands and voice box. Certain factors can increase your risk, like smoking tobacco regularly and drinking alcohol excessively.

Risk factors of head and neck cancer 

The most common causes of head and neck cancer are: 

• Tobacco use, including smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes or e-cigarettes (vaping) or chewing tobacco and snuff: Tobacco use may cause up to 85% of head and neck cancers. 
• Heavy alcohol consumption: Drinking a lot of alcohol, especially when combined with tobacco use, can greatly increase the risk you will develop head and neck cancer.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection: Certain strains of HPV, particularly HPV16 and HPV18, are linked to an increased risk of oropharyngeal cancer. This is a type of head and neck cancer which affects the soft palate, parts of the throat, the tonsils and the back of the tongue.

Several other factors can also increase your risk of head and neck cancer, including:

• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, which causes mononucleosis (mono) and stays dormant in the cells of your throat and immune system
• Gender (men are two to three times more likely than women to get head and neck cancer)
• Age (being over 50 years old)
• Poor diet and nutrition
• Poor oral hygiene
• Betal nut use
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux
• Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds
• Exposure to certain chemicals and substances, such as asbestos, wood dust, and paint fumes
• A weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS or immunosuppressive medicines
• Having radiation therapy on the head and neck
• Having certain genetic risk factors like Fanconi anemia
• Having a family history of certain types of head or neck cancer

Reducing the risk of head and neck cancer

It's impossible to get rid of all risks for head and neck cancer. Just because you have a risk factor doesn't mean you'll get cancer. But you can control some risk factors for this type of cancer. By taking steps to reduce them, you can lower your chances of developing it. 

How to reduce your risk of head and neck cancer:

• Quit using tobacco: Your body can reverse most of the damage caused by tobacco if you stop using it. It also helps to limit your exposure to secondhand smoke. 
• Limit alcohol consumption: Avoiding alcohol is best. If you choose to drink, you should have no more than two drinks a day if you are male and one drink a day if you are female. 
• Prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections: Get the HPV vaccine, start sexual activities at a later age, limit your sexual partners and use condoms and dental dams during oral sex. 
• Avoid vitamin deficiencies: Choosing a diet with a lot of vegetables, fruit and whole grains may reduce your risk. Eating a lot of processed meat or salt-cured meat and fish increases your risk. 
• Practice good oral or dental hygiene: Take good care of your teeth and mouth and get regular dental checkups. 
• Control symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux.
• Limit sun and UV exposure: Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., wear a hat and sunglasses. Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Avoid indoor tanning.
• Avoid exposure to certain chemicals and substances: Wear protective gear when you’re exposed to substances like asbestos, wood or textile dust, paint fumes, glue, formaldehyde, solvents, rubbing alcohol, nickel and chromium, especially if you need to use them for your job. 
• Avoid marijuana use.

The importance of early detection 

Unfortunately, head and neck cancer symptoms often don't appear until the later stages, making early detection more difficult. This emphasizes the value of being aware of your body and discussing symptoms promptly with your health care provider, especially for people with high risk factors.

Here's why early detection is important for head and neck cancer:

• Increased treatment effectiveness: Head and neck cancers found in early stages are often smaller and haven't spread to other parts of the body. This makes them easier to treat with surgery, radiation, or a combination of both, leading to higher success rates and improved patient outcomes.
• Less invasive treatments: Early-stage head and neck cancers may require less aggressive treatments. This can significantly improve a patient's quality of life after treatment. For instance, smaller tumors might be removed with less radical surgery, preserving more nearby healthy tissue.
• Improved survival rates: Early detection greatly increases the chances of surviving head and neck cancer. When caught early, the five-year survival rate for some head and neck cancers can be as high as 90%. However, this rate can drop significantly if the cancer progresses to later stages.
• Early intervention: Screenings can find pre-cancerous lesions, allowing for preventative measures to be taken before cancer develops.

Overall, early detection is key to successfully treating head and neck cancer. By being aware of risk factors and reporting symptoms to your health care provider in a timely manner, people can significantly increase their chances of a positive outcome.

Learn about symptoms and types of head and neck cancer.  

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