Reducing Your Risk of Mouth and Throat Cancer

Many types of cancer are linked to our diet and lifestyle, which means there are steps we can take to help prevent them. This page is about reducing your risk of mouth and throat cancer.

What is mouth and throat cancer?

Mouth and throat cancer refers to cancers of the tongue, lips, gums, tonsils, lining of the mouth and upper part of the throat. The throat, also known as the pharynx, leads down from the nose and mouth to the voicebox (larynx).

Mouth and throat cancers are caused by damaged cells, which can grow uncontrollably to form a tumour. Through using tobacco and by drinking alcohol the mouth and throat are directly exposed to cancer-causing agents (carcinogens).

The main causes of mouth and throat cancer are tobacco and alcohol, but there are also several other lifestyle choices we can make to reduce our risk of developing this cancer.

Who is most at risk?

There were nearly 5,000 new cases of mouth and throat cancer diagnosed in the UK in 2005. The rates of this cancer are increasing and it is twice as common in men than women. As with all cancers, the risk of developing mouth and throat cancer depends on a number of factors and varies from person to person. People who use tobacco; chew betel nut or paan (a South, East and South East Asian tradition); and/or drink alcohol are most at risk.

Scientists estimate that by not smoking or drinking alcohol, and by choosing a healthy diet, more than two-thirds of mouth and throat cancers could be prevented.

Lifestyle risk factors

• Smoking, and other use of and exposure to, tobacco
• Drinking alcohol
• Having a diet low in vegetables and fruits
• Like most cancers, mouth and throat cancer mainly affects older people, so if
  you are 40 years or over, you are more likely to develop the disease
• Exposure to Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which can be transmitted through oral sex, may also be a risk factor for mouth and throat cancer

While drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco are both independent causes, the risk of mouth and throat cancer is greater if you smoke and drink alcohol. If any of these apply to you, it does not mean that you will develop mouth and throat cancer – it just means that your risk may be higher than average. The important thing to remember is that you can make positive lifestyle changes at any age to help reduce your risk.

Reducing your risk

Our Second Expert Report found that there are steps we can take to reduce our risk of mouth and throat cancer. These are the key things we can do to reduce our risk:

• Do not smoke or chew tobacco

This is one of the most important steps you can take to reduce your risk of mouth and throat cancer.

• Limit alcoholic drinks

There is strong scientific evidence that alcohol increases the risk of mouth and throat cancer. We recommend that, if consumed at all, alcoholic drinks are limited to no more than 2 a day for men and 1 a day for women.

• Choose a healthy diet

Evidence shows that vegetables and fruits probably protect against cancers of the mouth and throat, so we should aim for at least five portions of a variety of different types each day.

Symptoms to look out for

If you are worried about any of these symptoms and if they last longer than three weeks, visit your doctor or dentist. They are likely to be caused by other less serious conditions, but it’s important to have a check up.

• an ulcer or sore in your mouth or on your tongue
• red or white patches in your mouth
• a pain in your head or neck area
• an unexplained lump in your mouth or neck
• a sore or painful throat
• hoarseness or difficulty swallowing, especially in smokers aged over 40 and heavy drinkers

Early detection

As with most cancers, survival rates can be significantly improved by early detection and diagnosis. It is important to check occasionally for any of the changes mentioned above. Early signs of mouth and throat cancer do not always cause discomfort or pain.

As part of your routine check up, your dentist is able to examine you for any early warning signs. It's a good idea to visit the dentist regularly, even if you no longer have your own teeth. If you are over 40, smoke, chew tobacco or betel nut or drink heavily, ask your dentist to check your mouth at least once a year.

Download our leaflet Reducing Your Risk of Mouth and Throat Cancer or find out about other types of cancer and our Recommendations for Cancer Prevention.