Why are my inner cheeks black?
Black spots inside the cheek can have several causes, such as blisters or hyperpigmentation. In rare cases, they may indicate something more serious, such as mouth cancer. Many harmless conditions can cause a black spot to develop inside the cheek.
In extremely rare cases the cause of a black spot on the inside of the cheek can be oral cancer, specifically oral melanoma. Oral melanoma can appear white and unpigmented, dark brown, or a blue black color. In the later stages, it may also be accompanied by additional symptoms such as pain, ulcers, and bleeding.
Early stages of mouth cancer may look like: Sore in the mouth that doesn't heal (the most common symptom) White or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsils, or lining of the mouth. Loose teeth.
- mouth ulcers that are painful and do not heal within several weeks.
- unexplained, persistent lumps in the mouth or the neck that do not go away.
- unexplained loose teeth or sockets that do not heal after extractions.
- unexplained, persistent numbness or an odd feeling on the lip or tongue.
In a healthy mouth, the tissues are pink, firm and moist. If you have a healthy mouth, your breath will smell pleasant or neutral. Healthy gums are firm and pink, not red or white.
The initial symptoms of oral melanoma often include swelling alongside a brown, dark blue, or black macule. A macule is a flat, discolored area of skin with a normal texture and thickness. The primary tumor may have numerous groups of tumor cells surrounding it, called satellite tumors .
The accumulating abnormal mouth cancer cells can form a tumor. With time they may spread inside the mouth and on to other areas of the head and neck or other parts of the body. Mouth cancers most commonly begin in the flat, thin cells (squamous cells) that line your lips and the inside of your mouth.
Oral cancer is fairly common. It can be cured if found and treated at an early stage (when it's small and has not spread). A healthcare provider or dentist often finds oral cancer in its early stages because the mouth and lips are easy to exam. The most common type of oral cancer is squamous cell carcinoma.
This disease spreads very quickly, especially for people who use tobacco alcohol and are over 50 years old. It takes approximately five years for oral cancer to develop from stage one to four. Therefore it is important to identify it early when there is a greater chance of cure.
Signs of inner cheek cancer may include the following: white, red, or dark patches in the mouth. lump inside cheek tissue. mouth pain or numbness.
Can you get cancer in your cheek?
Buccal mucosa cancer is a rare cancer that develops in the inner cheek in your mouth. It's a type of head and neck cancer. The buccal mucosa extends from the inside of your lips and cheeks to just behind your last teeth. It's a soft, wet mucous membrane that's made up of several layers of tissue.
How to do a mouth cancer check at home - YouTube
Mouth cancer can develop on most parts of the mouth, including the lips, gums and occasionally, the throat. The most common symptoms of mouth cancer include: red or white patches in the mouth or throat.
For mouth (oral cavity) cancer:
almost 80 out of 100 people (almost 80%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more after they are diagnosed. around 55 out of 100 people (around 55%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis. 45 out of 100 people (45%) survive their cancer for 10 years or more after ...
People older than 45 have an increased risk for oral cancer, although this type of cancer can develop in people of any age. Poor oral hygiene. Lack of dental care and not following regular oral hygiene practices may cause an increased risk of oral cavity cancer.
Skin discoloration around the mouth is caused by excess melanin production in your skin. Hormonal changes, medications, and sun exposure are related to hyperpigmentation. Nutritional deficiencies, skin trauma, and other medical conditions may also cause skin discoloration.
Leukoplakia appears as thick, white patches on the inside surfaces of your mouth. It has a number of possible causes, including repeated injury or irritation. It can also be a sign of precancerous changes in the mouth or mouth cancer.
Cold sores - painful sores on the lips and around the mouth, caused by a virus. Canker sores - painful sores in the mouth, caused by bacteria or viruses. Thrush - a yeast infection that causes white patches in your mouth. Leukoplakia - white patches of excess cell growth on the cheeks, gums or tongue, common in smokers.
Although oral melanoma occurs over a broad age range, it is largely a disease of those older than 40 years, and it is rare in patients younger than 20 years. The average patient age at diagnosis is 56 years.
Oral melanosis is benign pigmentary lesion of oral mucosa. It is seen more often in smokers. Though it is clinically asymptomatic, but remains a matter of concern to rule out underlying malignancy.
Is melanoma a silent killer?
Unfortunately, melanoma can be a silent killer. You can feel fine when you have it. You might not see any visible skin lesions, even as it spreads to your lymph nodes and body systems.
Oral cancer includes cancers of the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses, and pharynx (throat. It can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.
Stage IV Mouth Cancer
Stage IV is the most advanced stage of mouth cancer. It may be any size, but it has spread to: nearby tissue, such as the jaw or other parts of the oral cavity.
Surgery is the main treatment for most people with mouth cancer. Usually these tumors can be removed through the opening of the oral cavity, but some may require a more extensive approach. Which surgery is right for you depends on such factors as the size, stage, and location of your tumor.
Blood tests
No blood test can diagnose cancer in the oral cavity or oropharynx. Still, your doctor may order routine blood tests to get an idea of your overall health, especially before treatment. Such tests can help diagnose poor nutrition and low blood cell counts.
What is the average age of people who get oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer? The average age of most people diagnosed with these cancers is 63, but they can occur in young people. Just over 20% (1 in 5) of cases occur in patients younger than 55.
In late stages, patients with oral cancer for example, may succumb to a cancer in the lungs or the brain, which was not the location of the original, primary tumor. Metastasis most commonly occurs by way of the bloodstream or the lymphatic system.
A type of immunotherapy medicine called a checkpoint inhibitor is used to treat mouth cancer that has spread or cannot be removed through surgery. Immunotherapy helps your immune system find and kill cancer cells.
Tobacco and alcohol use.
Tobacco use of any kind, including cigarette smoking, puts you at risk for developing oral cancers. Heavy alcohol use also increases the risk. Using both tobacco and alcohol increases the risk even further.
Oral cancer may appear differently based on its stage, location in the mouth, and other factors. Oral cancer may present as: patches of rough, white, or red tissue. a hard, painless lump near the back teeth or in the cheek.
What can be mistaken for mouth cancer?
Early symptoms of oral cancer can be mistaken for something more benign, like tooth pain. If you have pain or symptoms that persist more than eight weeks, you should see your doctor. Alcohol and tobacco use are associated with nearly 75 percent of oral cancers.
In the early stages, mouth cancer rarely causes any pain. Abnormal cell growth usually appears as flat patches. A canker sore looks like an ulcer, usually with a depression in the center. The middle of the canker sore may appear white, gray, or yellow, and the edges are red.
- Bad breath.
- Bitter taste.
- Persistent pain.
- Sensitive or loose teeth.
- Swollen and inflamed gums, neck glands or jaw.
- Receding gums or new spaces between your teeth.
- Headache.
- Fever.
Most patients with stage I or II oral cavity cancers do well when treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy (chemo) given along with radiation (called chemoradiation) is another option. Both surgery and radiation work equally well in treating these cancers.
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Tongue.
| SEER Stage | 5-Year Relative Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| Localized | 83% |
| Regional | 69% |
| Distant | 41% |
| All SEER stages combined | 68% |
Overall, 60 percent of all people with oral cancer will survive for five years or more. The earlier the stage at diagnosis, the higher the chance of survival after treatment. In fact, the five-year overall survival rate in those with stage 1 and 2 oral cancers is typically 70 to 90 percent.
Hyperpigmentation is something that many people will experience throughout their life, and the area around the mouth is particularly prone to this condition. Patches of skin can become noticeably darker when an excess of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin colour, is produced and deposited in these areas.