Alcohol and tobacco consumption in cancer of the mouth, pharynx, and larynx: a study of 316 female patients.

Three hundred sixteen female patients with cancer of the larynx, pharynx, and mouth were examined and the following cancer sites were compared with respect to alcohol and tobacco consumption: oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, epilarynx, lip, and mouth. The mean daily tobacco consumption of smokers and ex-smokers was not significantly different between cancer locations; however, significant differences between cancer sites were observed with regard to the proportion of nonsmokers. The percentage of nonsmokers was the highest for cancer of the lips and the lowest for cancer of the epilarynx. Cancer locations differed significantly depending on daily alcohol consumption. Consumption was the lowest for patients with cancer of the lips. The percentage of nondrinkers was high for cancers of the lips and larynx and low for cancer of the epilarynx. Examination of the nonsmoking/nondrinking females (27.2%) did not reveal any features specific to this group, except that the patients were older.