Summary of Evidence
Avoidance of Tobacco
Avoidance of Alcohol
Dietary Factors
Sun Exposure
Note: Separate PDQ summaries on Oral Cancer Screening; Lip and Oral
Cavity Cancer Treatment; and Prevention and Cessation of Cigarette Smoking: Control of Tobacco Use are also available.
Avoidance of Tobacco
Based on solid evidence, avoidance or cessation of exposure to tobacco (e.g., cigarettes, pipes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco) would lead to a decrease in oral cancer.
Description of the Evidence
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Study Design: Evidence of association and reduced risk obtained from cohort or case-control studies.
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Internal Validity: Good.
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Consistency: Good.
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Magnitude of Effects on Health Outcomes: Decreased risk, moderate to large magnitude.
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External Validity: Good.
Avoidance of Alcohol
Although alcohol use is a risk factor for oral cancer, there is inadequate evidence that cessation of alcohol use decreases the risk of oral cancer.
Description of the Evidence
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Study Design: Evidence of association only from cohort or case-control studies.
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Internal Validity: Good.
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Consistency: Good.
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Magnitude of Effects on Health Outcomes: Decreased risk, moderate magnitude.
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External Validity: Good.
Oral cancer risk is highest in persons using both alcohol and tobacco, compared with those using one or the other.
Dietary Factors
There is inadequate evidence to determine whether a change in diet would decrease the risk of oral cancer.
Description of the Evidence
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Study Design: Evidence of association only obtained from cohort or case-control studies.
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Internal Validity: Inadequate.
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Consistency: Not applicable (N/A).
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Magnitude of Effects on Health Outcomes: N/A.
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External Validity: N/A.
Sun Exposure
There is inadequate evidence to determine whether reducing sun exposure would prevent lip cancer.
Description of the Evidence
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Study Design: Evidence of association only obtained from cohort or case-control studies.
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Internal Validity: Inadequate.
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Consistency: N/A.
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Magnitude of Effects on Health Outcomes: N/A.
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External Validity: N/A.
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