The effects of alcohol and smoking upon the age, anatomic sites and stage in the development of cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx in females in the south west Netherlands

A retrospective review of 303 women, aged 40 or over, with squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity or oropharynx was conducted in the south-west Netherlands to study the effects of smoking and alcohol upon the age of onset, site and stage of disease. It was noted that patients presenting with oropharyngeal cancers were younger and had a higher incidence of smoking and history of heavy drinking. Age at presentation was also affected by the amount of alcohol and tobacco consumed with non-users presenting with tumors approximately 15 years later. A specific finding was that heavy drinkers and smokers tended to present with late-stage-disease.