Some surgery can temporarily affect how you breathe. The airflow through the nose can change after removal of the tumour. This can lead to build up of mucus or crust in the cavity. Daily washing of the nose with salt water can help to reduce this but sometimes the crust may need to be removed by your doctor in the clinic. Usually, the crusting gets better with time.

You might have a reconstruction of part of your face with a tissue flap. This means that you might need to breathe through a tube in a hole in your neck. You do this until the wound has healed. The hole in your neck is called a temporary breathing stoma or tracheostomy.