A dramatic rise in oral cancer among women in the past ten years has been linked to increased rates of smoking and alcohol consumption.
The Irish Dental Association (IDA) said women now account for approximately 33 per cent of cases diagnosed each year compared to just 12 per cent during the 1990s.
The increase of the disease among women comes at time when the number of men being diagnosed increased only slightly.
Professor Leo Stassen
Prof Leo Stassen, consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon at St James's Hospital, said: "The increase of oral cancer amongst women may be attributed to an increase in the number of women smoking and the frequency with which they consume alcohol.
"If this trend continues we will soon see females replace males as the most likely sufferers of oral cancer," Prof Stassen warned.
The IDA highlighted that although the most dramatic increase over the last decade has been among women there has been a general increase in instances of oral cancer in all groups.
Prof Stassen said the number of younger people presenting with oral cancer continues to increase.
"Instances of oral cancer among younger people are becoming increasingly common. Surprisingly these young people are very often non-smokers and non-drinkers. The increase may be may be as a result of genetics, viral infections or exposure to carcinogens," he said.
People living in towns and cities are more likely to suffer from the disease because of increased incidence of exposure to carcinogens such as tobacco smoke and environmental carcinogens such as car fumes.
Prof Stassen said that early diagnosis of the disease is vital in order to maximise survival rates. Early diagnosis results in an 86 per cent chance of survival, but rates fall to just 10 per cent if the cancer has become advanced, he said.
