What doctors called a “sinus infection” turned out to be a rare cancer that took a 33-year-old woman's life

At first, it was just a nagging toothache.

That’s how it all began for Nicole Kowalski-Kleinsasser , a vibrant 25-year-old living in Nevada. Like most of us would, she thought it was probably something minor maybe she’d slept weird, or maybe it was her sinuses acting up again. Even her doctors weren’t too concerned. They diagnosed her with a common sinus infection and prescribed antibiotics, chalking the pain up to inflammation or a simple muscle strain.

But the pain didn’t go away.

In fact, it got worse, DailyMail reported. Nicole started having trouble sleeping because of the discomfort in her upper jaw. It was only when she visited the dentist, likely expecting to be told she needed a filling or root canal that things took a serious turn. Dental X-rays showed bone loss in her jaw, and further scans revealed a mass near one of her molars.

That’s when she finally got the news that would change everything: Nicole had a rare and aggressive form of salivary gland cancer .

The silent disease that took so much
Salivary gland cancer isn’t something you hear about every day. It’s rare, and when it starts to grow, it doesn’t always scream for attention. In Nicole’s case, it disguised itself behind what looked like everyday dental pain. Once it was discovered, doctors moved quickly with treatment.

Nicole endured 30 rounds of radiotherapy. She later described the experience as “next level painful.” The radiation caused severe burns inside her mouth, making eating and speaking unbearable. To help her function day-to-day, doctors fitted her with a prosthetic device called an obturator, which closed the hole in her palate. It was held in place with wires and needed regular adjustments—another physical and emotional hurdle in an already grueling journey.

For a while, the treatment seemed to work. Nicole went into remission. She took those precious years to try and live her life as normally as possible, even learning to feel comfortable with her new appearance.

But in April 2022, the cancer came back.

And this time, it hit harder.

The return of the cancer was more aggressive than before. It forced doctors to make a devastating decision: to save her life, they had to remove a portion of her face. Nicole underwent a major reconstructive surgery that involved skin grafts taken from her leg to rebuild what the cancer had destroyed.

Emotionally, this was crushing. Nicole had just started to regain confidence in how she looked. She was dealing not only with the aftermath of invasive surgery, but also with rising medical costs and frustrating insurance issues.

Through it all, Nicole stayed strong. She continued to share her journey, speaking openly about the painful realities of living with a rare cancer. She became a voice for awareness—a reminder that not all illnesses look dramatic in the beginning.

On January 23, 2023, Nicole passed away at just 33 years old.

What is salivary gland cancer?
Salivary gland cancer is a rare cancer that begins in one of the salivary glands—the tiny glands in your mouth and throat that help produce saliva. The major ones are the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands, though there are also hundreds of smaller glands spread throughout your mouth.

There are different types of salivary gland cancer. The most common include:

• Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
• Adenoid cystic carcinoma
• Acinic cell carcinoma

Some are slow-growing, while others, like the kind Nicole had, are fast and aggressive. Because it’s so rare, doctors don’t always think of it first, especially in young, otherwise healthy people.

Here’s the scariest part: salivary gland cancer doesn’t always show up with obvious symptoms at first. Many people brush it off as something mild, just like Nicole did.

Look out for these red flags:

• A lump or swelling near your jaw, ear, or neck – especially one that sticks around or gets bigger over time.
• Facial pain or numbness – could mean the tumor is pressing on nerves.
• Facial muscle weakness or drooping – this is serious and should be checked immediately.
• Trouble swallowing or opening your mouth wide – often overlooked until it becomes obvious.
• Unusual drainage from the ear or changes in how your dentures fit – these subtle shifts could point to something deeper.

While these symptoms might seem minor or even silly to bring up to a doctor, don’t ignore them. Better to be safe and get checked.

Nicole’s story is heartbreaking, but it’s also a wake-up call. Her cancer went undetected for far too long because the symptoms were so ordinary. And by the time the truth came out, it had already done irreversible damage. So if something doesn’t feel right—whether it’s your jaw, a toothache, or even just a lump that won’t go away—don’t wait. Push for answers. Insist on tests. Trust your gut.