I would ask for a punch biopsy of the soft palet. Not sure what to do about lymph nodes but can tell you that my recurrance came in a lymph node so if it were me I would discuss a neck disection with the doctors. They can also do a needle biopsy of the lymph nodes so maybe that is the next step.

Biopsy's should tell you if the cancer remains although that is harder to determine with a needle biopsy in lymph nodes. Sometimes they do not get enough material.