Causes

All forms of tobacco use...

(including smokeless tobacco) and alcohol consumption are the two most important risk factors for head and neck cancer.  This is especially true for cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx.  Eighty-five percent of these cancer are linked to tobacco use.

In addition, people who use both tobacco and alcohol are at more than double the risk of developing these cancer than people who use either tobacco or alcohol alone.

Sun exposure is also an important risk factor for cancer of the skin.

Other risk factors for head and neck tumors can involve radiation exposure, environmental pollutants and family history.