Causes of tongue cancer in the elderly

Every healthy person has cancer cells, but having cancer cells does not mean you will get cancer. If your immunity is reduced, cancer cells will grow more. Negative emotions such as stress and fear will promote the growth of cancer cells. We must understand the causes of cancer to overcome the occurrence of cancer. Today, let’s take a look at the causes of tongue cancer in the elderly:

The cause of oral cancer has not yet been fully understood, but the consensus view is that the occurrence of most oral cancers is related to environmental factors. Some external factors such as heat, chronic damage, ultraviolet rays, X-rays and other radioactive substances can become carcinogenic factors. For example, tongue and buccal mucosal cancers can occur in areas of long-term and frequent stimulation such as residual roots, sharp tooth tips, and poor restorations. In addition, internal factors such as neuropsychiatric factors, endocrine factors, the body's immune status, and genetic factors have been found to be related to the occurrence of oral cancer. Oral cancer usually has a precancerous lesion stage before onset, such as oral mucosal leukoplakia, traumatic ulcers, papilloma, etc. Tongue cancer, like other cancers, has an unknown cause. It is generally believed that the factors related to it are the following:

(1) Chemical carcinogens. Studies have shown that nicotine in tobacco is carcinogenic. Smokers are not only prone to tongue cancer, but also have a greatly increased chance of developing a second primary cancer if they continue to smoke after their tongue cancer is cured. Alcohol itself has not been proven to be carcinogenic, but it can promote cancer. Alcohol can act as a solvent for carcinogens, causing them to enter the tongue mucosa and cause cancer.

(2) Physical carcinogenic factors. Unsuitable dental trays, caries, sharp dental ridges, etc., which cause long-term friction with the lingual edge, can cause ulcers; poor oral hygiene, chronic inflammatory stimulation, and mechanical damage can all become carcinogenic factors.

(3) Biological carcinogenic factors. Some scholars have reported that some types of human papillomavirus are related to the occurrence of tongue cancer.

(4) Other factors: Genetics, body susceptibility, nutritional metabolic disorders, race, and radiotherapy may all be related to the occurrence of tongue cancer.