Seventh in the world in frequency, head and neck cancers – also called “ENT cancers – are a heterogeneous group forming in the upper aerodigestive tracts (lips, tongue, mouth, throat, larynx), but also the salivary glands. , the nasopharynx (area connecting the nose to the upper part of the throat), the sinuses, the nasal cavity, etc.
Tobacco and alcohol consumption are undoubtedly major risk factors for developing ENT cancer.
If the number of male cases attributable to tobacco and alcohol has been decreasing in recent years, they are increasing among women.
How to prevent?
Stopping smoking and rational consumption of alcohol are among the main prevention actions. But work published in the Journal of the American Cancer Society provides an unexpected clue.
Numerous studies have evaluated whether coffee or tea consumption is associated with a lower risk of developing head and neck cancer… with inconsistent results.
This is why a team from the University of California wanted to explore the subject in greater depth. The scientists analyzed data from 14 studies, involving more than 25,000 participants, including 9,548 cancer patients.
The results are particularly encouraging for coffee lovers. People consuming more than four cups of coffee per day had a 17% reduced risk of developing head and neck cancer.
More specifically, the risk of oral cavity cancer was reduced by 30% and that of the throat by 22%.
Decaffeinated coffee is not to be outdone, with a 25% reduction in the risk of oral cancer.
As for tea, moderate consumption (one cup per day) is associated with a 9% reduction in overall risk and a 27% reduction for hypopharyngeal cancer.
However, drinking excessively could increase the risk of laryngeal cancer by 38%, highlighting the importance of balanced consumption.
« Although research has already been conducted on coffee and tea consumption and reducing cancer risk, this study highlights their varying effects on different areas of head and neck cancer, including the observation that even decaffeinated coffee had a positive impact », conclude the authors. Without specifying the mechanisms involved…
