Nose Cancer

Patient Case: Nose Cancer

Early 40-year-old woman was unfortunately diagnosed with nose cancer. She went through radiation therapy. The treatment managed to control the cancer cells, however the side effects that came along were disrupting. 

Xerostomia is a medical term used for dry mouth due to lack of saliva. It is not life threatening but can have substantial knock-on effects. She was told by her oncologist that it is a permanent condition she has to live with it throughout her living years.

Before treatment

Every morning her tongue would stick to the side of mouth cavity. It was so dry that she could feel innumerable needles prickling her flesh. Following next challenge was to open her mouth, as the side of the dry and cracked lip prevented this simple act that so many of us have taken for granted; tapping with water is the only way to get around it. Having meal is also a major obstacle as there was no saliva to lubricate the inner mouth cavity. She would need to dig out the chewed food with her fingers in order to receive new intakes.

After treatment

For the first few weeks of treatment, she was able to open her mouth without water tapping. Subsequent treatment further her recovery as she could feel her mouth cavity becoming more moisturized; soon her prickling pain left her. She told me that she is contented to what had been achieved, despite still not able to fully secrete saliva like the past. We are happy for her when she told us she managed to consume one piece of loti prata, bearing in mind that this type of food can easily soaked up the fluid. She also managed to enjoy her holiday in a northern hemisphere country where the weather is cold and more dry. Another bonus is the cessation of grinding teeth at night, which has troubled her for years since young.

We are encouraged and impressed by her determination and effort,  coming in for the treatment 3 times per week. This would not have realized if she had departed from the course.