Craig Koenig Craig Koenig

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In September Craig was having problems with a tooth everytime he bit down so he went to the dentist they did X-rays and checked it all out and could not find anything wrong. They said it could be hairline fracture so they crowned the tooth. He continued to have problems off and on and in January his right upper lip went numb and he had teeth that were starting to get loose. He went back to the dentist and they did another x-ray and immediately sent him to a specialist something was not right. There was a mass that had grown from September to January and it was about the size of a ping pong ball.  He had a biopsy and weeks later it was diagnosed as Sarcomatoid carcinoma in other words sinus cancer. 


He was sent to Mayo Clinic in Rochester because he needed a specialized doctor since the mass was very close to the eye socket. 


When arriving at Mayo Clinic it was found that the tumor has damaged nerves in the sinus area and sinus maxillary. The maxillary sinus is like an outer shell that kind of helps protect and hold the eye socket, the nasal, cheek and teeth. The right side has shown a lot of damage from the tumor. 


Craigs Doctor, Doctor Eric  Moore MD (Otorhinolaryngology) said this is the hardest area to remove and replace. However surgery is needed.  The surgery will take 12-14 hours as they will have to have bone removed from his shoulder to be used in his face and reconstruct the cheek and jaw bone. 


Before surgery however it was determined that radiation and chemo should be done as this is be best way to save his eye. They hope to shrink the tumor and remove all the extend arms  this type of cancer grows.   


After 5 weeks of radiation and chemo there will be a one to two week wait before surgery. 


There is a possibility that he will need additional radiation after surgery.