Although those primarily at risk are people who use tobacco or drink alcohol, anyone can develop head and neck cancer. More than 55,000 Americans will develop head and neck cancer this year. Nearly 15,000 of these people will die from their cancer. Tobacco use is the most common cause of head and neck cancer, making most cases a very preventable disease. An estimated 419,000 Americans died in 1990 from diseases directly related to smoking.
Smoking is responsible for one in five deaths in the United States.
Smoking decreases long-term life expectancy by as much as 25 percent. This figure does not include smoking related injuries such as fires, low birth weight infants, and second hand smoke. Plain and simple - don't use tobacco products. This includes cigarettes, cigars, dip, snuff, and chew. Tell your friends what you've learned.