Head and neck cancer: smoking, drinking, eating and…sexual practices

Excerpt

Head and neck cancers are among the most common cancers worldwide with nearly 600,000 new cases and 300,000 deaths occurring globally every year [1, 2]. These cancers include cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx [2]. Approximately 90 % of head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas [2]. Associations between cigarette smoking, heavy alcohol drinking and the incidence and mortality of these cancers are well established [3] as well as their interaction [4]. Other factors involved are food and nutrition [5] and infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) for oropharyngeal cancer only [6]. In this issue of the European Journal of Epidemiology, we are without a doubt dealing with two crucial studies [7, 8] that provide powerful and decisive data on the epidemiology and prevention of head and neck cancers. …