MedifocusHealth

A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chances for getting a disease, such as cancer. The two highest risk factors for tongue cancer are:

• Use of tobacco products - cigars, pipes, cigarettes, chewing tobacco.
• Alcohol consumption - smoking combined with high alcohol consumption has a synergistic effect and, therefore, magnifies the risk of developing tongue cancer.

Other possible risk factors for tongue cancer include:

• Regular use of mouthwashes that contain alcohol
• Plummer-Vinson syndrome - a condition characterized by iron-deficiency anemia, achlorhydria (absence of hydrochloric acid from the gastric juice), and glossitis (inflammation of the tongue). This syndrome has been linked to the development of oral and pharyngeal cancer in a small proportion of women.
• Viruses - certain viruses such as herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human papilloma virus (HPV) have been associated with oral cancer, however, there is no proof that these viruses actually cause the cancer.
• Older age - the risk of developing tongue cancer appears to increase with age and is most commonly observed in patients between the ages of 60 and 80.
• Male gender - The risk of tongue cancer is about twice as high in men than women, although women who smoke and/or consume alcohol are also at increased risk for developing tongue cancer.
• Leukoplakia and erythroplakia - The presence of premalignant (precancerous) lesions in the mouth or on the tongue such as leukoplakia (white patches) and erythroplakia (red patches) is recognized as a risk factor for development of mouth and tongue cancer, particularly in individuals who smoke, chew tobacco, or consume alcohol.