牙痛半年！正妹罹癌拔11顆牙救命 10年尪卻拋棄她

一名來自洛杉磯的28歲女子妮可（Nicole Kowalski），於2017年6月時感覺到牙痛，但醫生診斷後卻告訴她沒有大礙，接下來的日子裡，妮可覺得疼痛逐漸加劇，還蔓延到下巴和臉頰，直到6個月後才發現她確診「唾液腺癌」，前後治療共拔除11顆牙齒，讓她的嘴一度僅能張開1公分。

⚾世界棒球12強⚾超級循環賽 鎖定 CH51 東森新聞

據英國《每日郵報》報導，妮可起初因牙痛去看牙，沒想到醫生卻草草的打發她，但隨著日子一天天過去，妮可的牙痛竟蔓延到臉頰及上顎，讓她覺得事情沒有這麼單純。6個月後妮可再次找上醫生，經過X光檢查發現，她的上顎骨質流失，且有一個罕見的良性腫瘤，儘管該腫瘤不會致命，但仍有致癌風險，因此醫生立刻安排動手術切除，也為了治療拔除4顆牙齒，並將切除的腫瘤進一步檢查。

▼妮可不斷接受治療。（圖／翻攝自IG@nicolescrookedsmile）

 

 

 

 

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A year ago today my life changed forever. I went to USC Keck to have a maxillectomy. I tumor was growing in my right jaw causing massive amounts of pain. I woke up two and half hours later to four less teeth and a large hole in my soft pallet. I had an obturator wired in my mouth and was missing a nice little square of skin on my right thigh. I couldn’t eat or drink and was in the hospital for a week. But I was grateful that whatever was causing me so much pain was gone. A week after getting discharged I went to get the packing from my surgery taken out. This was when my doctor told me that my fight wasn’t quite over, I was diagnosed with salivary gland cancer and would need six weeks of radiation. I was scared and worried that I wouldn’t be strong enough. But one thing I knew was that I would have the support I needed to make it through. Now, a year later, I look at myself in the mirror—my face a little more aged, my eyes more full of understanding, and my heart with little cracks being mended slowly. I have new challenges upon me, but I have proven I am a survivor. I have proven to myself that I can get through some of the worst pain and the hardest times. I will continue to fight for the life I deserve, a life full of happiness and love. Stress free. Sorrow free. Cancer free. #oneyearago #movingforward #fiercewomen #behappyandsmile #headandneckcancer #keck #keckschoolofmedicine #salivaryglandcancer #maxillectomy #hospitalstay #cancerfree #cancersucks #radiationtherapy #gomyownway #icandothis #wontlastforever #notforever #uscmedicalcenter #worthy #worthyoflove #deserving #icandoanything #iamstrong #stillirise #neverthelessshepersisted

Nicole Kowalski（@nicolescrookedsmile）分享的貼文 於 PST 2019 年 3月 月 5 日 上午 9:52 張貼

妮可將腫瘤切除後2周，又回到醫院複診，沒想到醫生竟告訴她，她確診了「唾液腺癌」，隨後妮可又進行了1個月的放射治療，而這項治療引發了副作用，讓她的嘴巴僅能微微張開1公分。雖然接受了治療，但癌症卻於2019年12月再次復發，這次除了1個月的放射治療外，妮可又拔除了7顆牙齒，令人難過的事情還沒結束，在妮可生病的這段期間，和她在一起10年的丈夫和她離婚，讓她痛苦不已。

▼妮可現在裝上活動義齒。（圖／翻攝自IG@nicolescrookedsmile）

 

 

 

 

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☀️We all know that social media isn’t quite what it seems. The lives we put out aren’t exactly who are as people, friends, or even partners.☀️Sadly, we hide what we’re not willing to share. An untouched photo, a sad moment, or a fight with a friend. Is it fear that we will appear less than “normal”? That people will think less of us if we share anything less than perfect?☀️Of course with our lives being consumed by these platforms we certainly don’t have to share information that should be kept private. But what is it really about that we don’t want share some part of our unfiltered life?☀️I’ve noted in a previous post that I struggle with self-confidence regarding my face. Since the second surgery, I’ve had times where I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror. I was too ashamed of what I saw. An aged 28 year old, with stress wrinkles, a crooked nose, and strange lip. Not to mention the obturator I currently have contributing to my feelings. I’d feel the same way when my prosthesis was out, even more so.☀️The photo I shared not too long ago still contained some light touch ups and I almost touched up the second photo posted here. But I thought it was important to note that the women in both photos is beautiful.☀️The women in both photos still has a story, is worthy of love, and is a strong bad ass who beat cancer twice. The second photo is just a reality I deal with every single day.☀️My unfiltered life doesn’t change my story. It enhances it. If anything, it tells it better. Do I prefer the touched up photo with my makeup on as opposed to the other one? You bet. But I want to be comfortable just being me—Nicole.☀️So here’s some food for thought this Tuesday morning: what’s stopping you from sharing a part of your unfiltered life? #unfilteredlife #unfilteredbeauty #unfiltered #cancersurvivor #headandneckcancer #selfconfidence #trustyourself #noteeth #noproblem #notphotoshopped #smileanyway #loveyourself #itsnoteasybutyouhavetotry #goodashell #strongwoman #resilient #cancersucks #salivaryglandcancer #faithoverfear #cancerfree #obturator #prosthesis #listentoyourbody #listentoyourheart #keckmedicineofusc

Nicole Kowalski（@nicolescrookedsmile）分享的貼文 於 PDT 2020 年 9月 月 15 日 上午 9:31 張貼

儘管如此，妮可仍努力的接受治療，並在今年8月康復，也裝上了「活動義齒」，而她在康復後重返校園，並完成學業，同時她也找到了另一名心靈契合的伴侶，2人相當幸福。事實上，癌症對妮可來說並不陌生，因為她的家族中就有5人曾被診斷出癌症，但她沒有想到她的病情來的這麼快，而妮可也鼓勵其他癌友，在治療的路上要深刻體會自己的感受，可以尖叫或哭泣都沒關係，但仍要傾聽自己的聲音，並試著保持樂觀。

（封面圖／翻攝自IG@nicolescrookedsmile）