Hard palate cancer arises from the roof of the mouth. Tobacco is the biggest contributing factor to hard palate cancers. Cancers in the hard palate region may cause pain or numbness in the face and could make it difficult to open one’s mouth or speak. If a patient is experiencing any of these symptoms, or if they notice that the roof of their mouth does not look smooth and there is an area of irregularity, it is a good idea for them to go see a doctor to get it checked out. If there is a growth, a biopsy will be necessary to determine if it is a cancer, and further evaluation with an MRI or CT scan may be required. The treatment for hard palate cancer is usually surgery, sometimes followed by radiation treatment and occasionally chemotherapy.
