Head and Neck Cancer Prevention

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Most of these cancers are preventable. In fact, as many as 80% of head and neck cancers can be prevented by not using tobacco, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Of course, there are other head and neck cancer risk factors to be aware of, so you can take steps to protect yourself — and your children — from developing the disease.

• Tobacco use. People who use tobacco in any form are at far greater risk of developing head and neck cancer than people who don’t use tobacco. Not only that, but tobacco use is cumulative and affects your head and neck cancer prognosis (outcome), meaning the more tobacco you use, the lower your chance of recovery.
• Secondhand smoke. Even if you don’t personally smoke tobacco, exposure to secondhand smoke can increase your risk for head and neck cancer. People who live or have lived with someone who smokes are at greatest risk for developing cancer from secondhand smoke.
• Alcohol use. Drinking alcohol increases your risk for certain head and neck cancers, namely cancer of the mouth, throat and voice box. The more alcohol you drink, the higher your risk. And if you use both tobacco and alcohol, your risk is much higher than the use of either alone.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV). As rates of smoking decrease, HPV is becoming one of the top causes of head and neck cancer in both men and women. Nearly everyone who is sexually active will contract HPV at some point in their lives, although most people recover from it without even knowing they had it. A very small percentage of people will develop a type of head and neck cancer called oropharyngeal (throat) cancer from HPV.
• Gender. Males have historically developed head and neck cancer at about twice the rate of females — likely due to higher rates of smoking among men — although this is changing as more head and neck cancers are being caused by HPV.
• Personal history of head and neck cancer. Being diagnosed with head and neck cancer once makes you more likely to have it again, whether the same or a different type.
• Previous radiation to the head or neck. Being treated for cancer or another disease with radiation to the head or neck increases your risk for salivary gland cancer.

Research is still being done to identify other possible head and neck cancer risk factors, particularly with regard to marijuana usage and vaping. It’s best to avoid these behaviors until we know definitively whether or not they affect head and neck cancer risk.

Most head and neck cancers can be avoided by adhering to the following head and neck cancer prevention guidelines:

• Do not use tobacco in any form.
• Avoid secondhand smoke as much as possible. Urge anyone who lives with you to quit.
• Get vaccinated against HPV. The vaccine is recommended for males and females ages 9 to 45.
• Practice good oral hygiene, including brushing your teeth daily and visiting a dentist twice a year.
• Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Winship is dedicated to curing cancer through our tireless research to improve the ways the world prevents, detects, diagnoses, treats, and survives all types of cancer, including head and neck cancer. That’s why Winship is involved in research to better understand why cancer develops and to discover new ways to prevent it.