There are significant risk factors that may contribute to the development of head and neck cancers. These risk factors include:

• Tobacco use including any of the following: cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff
• Alcohol use
• History of pre-cancerous lesions
• Radiation to the head and neck early in life for conditions such as enlarged tonsils, acne, or enlarged thymus
• Beetle nut use
• Other possible risk factors:
  • Poor nutrition
  • Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
  • Weakened immune system
  • Laryngopharyngeal reflux