What You Should Know About Oral Cancer

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Dental Association, approximately 39,000 Americans annually are affected by oral and pharyngeal cancer and about 8,000 people die per year. Men are about twice as likely to contract oral cancer as women, and one in 92 adults will be diagnosed at some point in their lifetime.

Some of the biggest risk factors for oral cancer are tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, or even worse — the combination of the two. Additionally, HPV 16, a strain of human papillomavirus that can be prevented with the HPV vaccine, can spread through oral sex and lead to oral cancer. Increased age, diet, and sun exposure are also believed to be factors....

Learn more from Oz Expert, Dr. Jonathan B. Levine, on the Oz Blog - click here.