According to the National Institutes Of Health (NIH), cancer of the tongue is part of the oral cancers that include those arising from the structures in the mouth. These cancers are usually squamous cell carcinoma types. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 30,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year. The actual cause of cancers in these areas is not known. Certain risk factors have been associated with their occurrence.
Tobacco Use
People who use tobacco products are many times more likely to develop cancers in the mouth, including the tongue, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The chances of developing another cancer after recovery from a previous cancer are also much higher among those who continue to smoke.
Alcohol Use
Alcohol use is also implicated in the development of oral cancers, like tongue cancer. The ACS says that this risk is heightened in those who smoke and drink alcohol.
Gender
According to the NIH, twice as many men as women have oral cancers, including tongue cancer. The ACS attributes this to the fact that more men drink and smoke than women.
Previous Exposure to Radiation
Previous cancer in the head and neck area with treatment by radiation therapy, according to the Mayo Clinic, is thought to increase the risk of the occurrence of oral cancers, including cancer of the tongue.
Poor Nutrition and Diet
A diet low in fruits and vegetables appear to increase the risks of developing tongue cancer, says the ACS. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) also adds a vitamin A deficiency and the chewing of bethel nuts among Asians as possible causes.
Depressed Immunity
According to the ACS, patients on immune-suppressant therapy for transplants may be at an increased risk of developing tongue cancer.
HPV Infection
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is known to cause cancer in the cervix. The ACS reports that some HPV viral genetic material is seen in cancers of the oral cavity, including the tongue.
Other Possible Causes
Oral cancers, including tongue cancer, are more common in people over the age of 40 years. Poor oral hygiene and poorly fitting dentures are other factors mentioned in the risks for oral cancer. Alcoholic mouthwashes and the presence of the disease called lichen planus are also mentioned by the ACS as possible causative agents.
