Tobacco and alcohol are the two major reasons behind the rising cases of head and neck cancers (HNC) in India, accounting for a 35-times higher risk, experts said on Sunday.

HNC typically consists of anatomical sub-sites like tongue, mouth, other parts of the pharynx like oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, salivary glands, nasal cavity, larynx (voice box), etc.