| | Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 2 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 2 | My dentist has referred my to an oral surgeon to have a biopsy of my upper palate. What can I expect after the biopsy: pain, talking, eating??
I would appreciate hearing from anyone who had an upper palate biopsy. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | Hi Darlene, welcome to OCF! First let me say all patients are individuals and will have different opinions on their pain level and their recovery. For me, Ive become so immune to biopsies that I go in and have them do what they have to without novacaine or any numbing.
Generally most patients are in mild discomfort for only a couple days. You may need to eat a soft diet and chew slowly, avoiding spicy foods for a few days. Your speech should be ok. It probably will hurt to talk for the first couple days so you may not want to be too talkative for the first day or two. Your mouth is likely to be sore. Rinsing several times a day with a mixture of warm water and salt should help heal the site.
Hopefully you will not have a cancer diagnosis. We are here for you if you do get bad news. Good luck!!!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 37 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 37 | Darlene, I recently had a biopsy of the palate. Actually, it was on two small pieces of skin hanging from the palate. The ENT doctor said they looked like papilloma. The biopsy was a simple procedure. He gave me a shot or two of xylocaine and clipped the tissue with a small scissors, then cauterized it to stop the bleeding. Completely painless and I was able to speak and eat normally afterwards. (I was told to avoid hot drinks and food for a short time.)
I hope that helps. Your biopsy may be completely different if the doctor will be getting a different kind of tissue sample or if it is located differently than mine was. Best wishes to you and hoping you have a good outcome.
Andrew
4x survivor
1998 - SCC of larynx
...laryngectomy, tracheotomy, radiation, caries, HBO, teeth extr, TEP
2002 - lung cancer, wedge resection
2014 - SCC of BOT, pharynx, oropharynx, HPV-, stage IV, T2N0MX, invasive, poorly differentiated
...chemo (carboplatin, taxol), dc'd due to neuropathy
2015 - SCC of palate
...Feb-April IMRT (46 x 70 Gy)
...Jan 2015 - May 2016 cetuximab 500 mg q week x 55wks
2016 - metastases to mediastinum, lungs, spleen, pancreas
...Aug-? pembrolizumab q 3 wks
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 2 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 2 | Thank you for your replies. I am nervous because I was diagnosed five years with stage II breast cancer and received 8 rounds of chemo.
Part of my job responsibilities are telephone customer service and I was concerned about talking. Can anyone provide me with a good resource link to learn more about upper palate cancer?
Sincerely, | | |
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