Oral cancer has a higher level of occurrence among males (twice as much at least) as compared to females because men’s rate and amount of tobacco and alcohol usage over a prolonged period is much higher.
Oral cancer occurrence increases with age. The majority of oral cancers begin after the age of 35 with more than half of diagnosed patients falling in the 68 year old or more brackets.
Among oral cancer patients, statistics have found that 90 percent of them are dedicated tobacco users. Smokers are six times more likely to develop oral cancer as opposed to nonsmokers.
Roughly 80 percent of all patients diagnosed with oral cancer also drink alcohol on a regular basis. Oral cancer occurs six times as much among frequent alcohol drinkers as compared to nondrinkers.
Jobs associated with heavy, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight are one of the main reasons behind 30 percent of patients with lip related cancers.
Cancer of the oral cavity has also been linked to a poor diet. Particularly, a diet lacking in fruits and vegetables carries the increased risk of oral cancer.
The human papilloma virus (HPV) is a known contributor to oral cancer as well.
The earlier oral cancer is detected and diagnosed, the better the treatment and survival rate. With the help of your family dentist and/or physician and the appropriate treatment, the relative five-year survival rate among patients occurs during the five years after diagnosis regardless of whether or not the cancer has been eliminated, the patient is in remission or still undergoing treatment.