Prevention
The risk factors that have been identified for the development of tongue cancer should be discontinued. These include: excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, especially pipe smoking, drug consumption, and poor oral hygiene.
Is tongue cancer contagious?
Tongue cancer is not contagious. Neither touch or other contact with a sick person can cause direct transmission. The fear of infection can, however, be caused by an incorrect understanding of the disease.
It is suspected that certain viruses (HPV) play a role in the development of tongue cancer. These viruses are highly contagious and can be transmitted in close physical contact as during sexual intercourse. Nevertheless, many healthy people carry these viruses and smoking and alcohol consumption are much more significant risk factors for the development of tongue cancer than infection with HPV. It is therefore inappropriate to stay away from a person suffering from tongue cancer because of an apparent risk of infection.
All articles in this series:
