Why Is This Important?

During 2021, 953 male and 398 female New Jersey residents were diagnosed with cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx. The most common sites for oral cavity and pharynx cancers are the tongue, floor of the mouth, gums, lip, tonsil, or lower pharynx. The most common risk factors for getting cancer of the oral cavity are tobacco use (both cigarette smoking and smokeless/chewing tobacco) and drinking alcoholic beverages in excess.

Definition

Incidence rate of invasive oral cavity and pharynx cancer for a defined population in a specified time interval. Rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. Standard Population. Rates are per 100,000 population.

Data Sources

• SEER*Stat, National Center Institute
  (https://www.seer.cancer.gov/seerstat)
• Bridged-race population estimates, National Cancer Institute
  (https://seer.cancer.gov/popdata/)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

Between 1990 and 2021, the age-adjusted oral cavity and pharynx cancer rate in males averaged 16.0 cases per 100,000 population. In females, the age-adjusted oral cavity and pharynx cancer rate averaged 6.3 cases per 100,000 population. The lifetime risk of developing oral cavity and pharynx cancer is 1 in 59 for men and 1 in 139 for women.

What Is Being Done?

A Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan was developed by the Task Force on Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment in New Jersey which aims to reduce the incidence, illness and death due to cancer among New Jersey residents. [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/public/resources/occp.shtml]

Available Services

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has many programs and partnerships related to cancer data and information, cancer resources and cancer prevention. Cancer Epidemiology Services: [https://nj.gov/health/ces/] Interactive New Jersey cancer incidence and mortality data, as well as numerous publications, are available through the NJDOH website for cancer statistics and mapping. [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/cancer-researchers/cancer-data/index.shtml] Office of Cancer Control and Prevention: [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/public/resources/occp.shtml] NJ Cancer Education and Early Detection (NJCEED): [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/public/resources/njceed.shtml] NJ Commission on Cancer Research: [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/cancer-researchers/njccr.shtml]

More Resources

More information on oral cavity cancer is available from the NJ State Cancer Registry, [https://nj.gov/health/ces/documents/briefs/oral_pharyn_cancer.pdf].