Oral cancer in non-smoking non-drinking elderly females

Over 1 900 people in the UK die from mouth cancer every year. More than 90% of oropharyngeal cancers are oral squamous cell carcinoma, originating in the squamous cells which cover the inside of the mouth, nose and throat. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the seventh most common malignancy in the world.

Most cases of oral cancer can be linked to smoking and alcohol consumption, and when consumed together the risk of developing cancer is even greater. More recently, studies have also shown that the human papillomavirus (HPV) may too be linked with oral cancer. HPV can be spread though oral sex, and research suggests that it could soon be rivalling smoking and drinking as one of the major causes of the disease.