Head and neck cancers affect around 55,000 people in the U.S. every year. The good news is that many cases are avoidable if you get the HPV vaccine, don't smoke, and limit alcohol intake.

And new research shows an even simpler way to dodge those cancers: Drink coffee.

A paper in the journal Cancer that gave an overview of 14 studies says that when people drink more than 4 cups of caffeinated coffee daily, they reduce the overall risk of head and neck cancer by 17%.

And the specific benefits are even greater. Drinking 3 cups to 4 cups of caffeinated coffee reduces the risk of a form of throat cancer (hypopharyngeal cancer) by 41%. And drinking decaf is associated with a 25% reduction in the risk of oral cancer, and a 29% lower risk of hypopharyngeal cancer.

Just make sure you don't add sweeteners and fatty dairy to your joe.

If you do develop head or neck cancer, the key to survival is early detection. Symptoms include a lump in the neck, a change to your voice, pain chewing or swallowing, and persistent earache.

If caught early, the five-year survival rate for stage 1 and stage 2 is up to 90%, so get checked out if you have any troubling symptoms in your throat, mouth, or head.

For more information on lifestyle choices that help you avoid a wide range of cancers, check out Dr. Mike's book "The Great Age Reboot," and watch the video "Dr. Oz on Living Longer" on YouTube.