Thelansis

  Head and neck cancer affects nearly 65,000 individuals annually in the United States. Excluding skin and thyroid cancers, over 90% of head and neck malignancies are squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs); the remainder predominantly consists of adenocarcinomas, sarcomas, and lymphomas. A significant majority, exceeding 85%, of patients with head and neck cancer have a history of alcohol consumption, tobacco use, or both. Chronic heavy use of tobacco and alcohol increases the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by approximately 40-fold. Other potential risk factors include the use of smokeless tobacco, exposure to sunlight, prior radiation therapy of the head and neck, certain viral infections, poorly fitting dental appliances, chronic candidiasis, and inadequate oral hygiene. In India, the high prevalence of oral cancer is attributed to the chewing of betel quid (paan). For squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip, prolonged sunlight exposure and tobacco use are the primary eti...