Marty Kane overcomes cancer and claustrophobia on his journey to good health

Cancer had taken its toll on 63 year-old Marty Kane, from Wentzville, and so had the cancer treatments. 

“Chemo and radiation just killed my gums,” Kane says.  “Eventually, my teeth began breaking off at the gum line because of the damage.”

Kane went to an oral surgeon who suggested he visit the Advanced Wound Center (AWC).  He had 20 treatments at the AWC just to get his gums to the point where he could have oral surgery to remove the broken teeth.  He then had 10 additional treatments to assist in the healing process following surgery.

Kane was unsure whether or not he could undergo the hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatments at the AWC due to his claustrophobia.

“When I first saw it, I was like, oh, okay, I can do this,” Kane recalls about seeing the HBO chamber.  “But when they went to put me inside the thing, it was a different story.”

With the support of the AWC team, and an assist to medication to help him relax, Kane was able to eventually start his HBO treatments.

“I couldn’t have done it without Jenni,” Kane says, referring to Jenni Koskela, LPN, hyperbaric oxygen technician at the AWC.  “She helped keep me calm and checked on me often to make sure I was doing okay. The whole team there treated me like family from day one.”

Now that his treatments are finished, Kane is being fitted for dentures.  He plans to stop by the AWC soon and thank the team that helped him through a very painful situation.

“I miss everyone there already,” Kane says. “I’ll be stopping by soon to visit - I want them to see my new teeth!”

The Advanced Wound Center is located in the BJC Outpatient Care Center, 2630 Highway K in O’Fallon, MO. Call 636-980-5333 for an evaluation.