Lip cancer is a form of oral cancer, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Appearing as a sore that does not go away, lip cancer can be life-threatening for those who do not seek treatment. As with any cancer, risk factors exist that increase a person's chances of developing this disease. In some cases these risk factors are controllable.
Smoking
The Cleveland Clinic states that smokers are six times more likely than non-smokers to develop oral cancer. The American Cancer Society adds that approximately eight out of 10 people with oral cancer smoke or chew tobacco. Risk depends on how long they have been using tobacco products.
While tobacco from cigarettes, cigars and pipes can cause cancer anywhere in the mouth, however, those who smoke pipes face a more significant risk for lip cancer on the areas where the pipe stem meets the lips. Furthermore, one out of three people who continue smoking once the cancer is cured develop a second oral cancer, while only one in 10 who quit smoking experience a recurrence.
Alcohol Use
Oral cancers--such as lip cancer--are six times more likely to occur in those who drink alcohol than in those who do not, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The American Cancer Society concurs, stating that drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing oral cancer. Approximately seven out of 10 people with this disease are heavy drinkers.
When people smoke and drink, their risk for lip cancer can be up to 100 times higher than for people who do neither. Furthermore, the American Cancer Society states that approximately eight out of 10 lip cancers could be prevented if people did not smoke or drink.
Human Papilloma Virus Infection
Also known as HPV, the human papilloma virus includes more than 100 viruses. Most forms of HPV cause warts on the body, while others cause cancer--these are the types responsible for oral cancer.
As the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains, HPV is spread through sexual contact---vaginal, anal and oral. The virus causes healthy cells to become abnormal, and while in most cases the body is able to fight the virus and heal the abnormal cells, in some cases this does not occur. This is when warts or cancer appear, though it may take weeks or months after becoming infected for this to happen. To prevent lip cancer from HPV, people need to practice safe sex and undergo regular testing for sexually transmitted diseases.
