[Cancer of the oral cavity in three brothers of the whole blood in Mauritania].

Major risk factors for cancers of the oral cavity are alcohol and tobacco, but hereditary factors were also identified. This case study aims to illustrate this last component among the most known risk factors. We here report three cases of brothers of the whole blood presenting with cancer of the oral cavity showing rapid development in less than a year in each of them. Additional risk factors other than hereditary factors were: smoking, poor oral hygiene, low fruit and vegetable intake. Hereditary risk has been a controversial issue for a long period of time, but several recent studies have suggested the existence of this risk factor which is consistent with our observation. These studies even showed that hereditary component for carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract seems likely; it is important that family members at risk understand that their vulnerability to these tumors can be greatly reduced by stopping smoking, by a moderate consumption of alcohol and a frequent consumption of raw fruits and vegetables. Further studies should be carried out in our country to clarify the respective role of these different risk factors in developing this type of cancer Meanwhile, prevention and early diagnosis are the most appropriate means to fight against this type of cancer.