3. Tobacco Use
This factor should come as no surprise, but those individuals who smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco are at far higher risk of developing tongue cancer than those who abstain from the habit. Continued exposure to the carcinogens in cigarette smoke and chewing tobacco increases the chances that your cells will experience some form of mutation from absorbing all the chemicals in the smoke or tobacco.
Cigarette smoke contains over 7,000-dangerous chemicals that can severely affect your health. Each year, smoking kills nearly half a million people in the United States. Despite the warnings on product packaging, as well as numerous anti-smoking campaigns, Americans refuse to stop lighting up and thus increase their risk of developing dread diseases like mouth, tongue, and lung cancer.
If you are in a high-risk group for developing cancer, speak to your doctor about stopping smoking. There are various cessation programs available to help you find the strength to quit.