I'm over 60 now and have been singing all my life in choirs, in the church, at school and the past 40 years playing in bands and solo.In 2019 I noticed my voice breaking up reaching higher notes. Thinking this was acid reflux I took a course of antacids but the doctor set me for tests which involved pushing a tiny camera down my nose at the ENT dept. This revealed swelling and redness in my right vocal chord. This was diagnosed as Dysplasia which is the beginnings or sign of cancerous tissue. I was sent to a hospital in Liverpool.

What an amazing place and the team are amazing. The biospsy revealed serious dysplasia and in december I received my 1st treatment of laser directed surgery. Prior to this the sugeon showed me a video and still images of the vocal chords and the difference between the good left hand and the red swollen right hand. What an amazing pair of muscles they are considering what they do!! It was a day release treatment and painless. Being the naughty boy I am, I immediatly woke up from the general anesthetic and started talking to everyone in the recovery room to which the nurse threatened to tape up my lips. 3 days of silence was recomended. I left the hospital around 5pm and reluctantly spent 3 days learning sign language and not even whispering which was warned against!. A week would have been better and singing was supposed to be 6 weeks minimum. I lasted 2 but didnt over do it. Its 2022 as i write and I still have not done a gig. 

After effects was a sore area swollowing and lesser eating but avoiding chilli!! I became addicted to Scottish ice cream fro Aldi and still am along with honey,lemon and garlic drinks. (But no one will talk to me ha ha! )

In 2020 the surgeon saw me twice restricted by the Covid outbreak. This sadly meant the displasia spread to early cancer
and was spotted erly and the surgeon admitted had he spotted it would have operte erlier as the 1st treatment was only slight so as not to damage my singing voice. In January 2022 a second op was performe followed by a third 2mm deeper treatment just 14 days ago. I stayed quiet for 10 days and stayed in too to avoid trying to talk in the pub noise. I cariried a note in my back pocket saying " Cant speak Voice Op 4 more days" The hairdresser thought I was "Avin a laugh!!"

So here I am after 3 ops and in hope the deeper laser treatment has irradicated the bad cells. Im avoiding beer and being careful to avoid acidic drinks. My swollowing pain has been awful when trying to sleep. Ice cream and ice drinks help but the you're up in the night for a wee and cant get back to sleep. Cant win.

At the end of all this i hope this cures it as i dont want radiology. 4 more weeks before i attempt to sing. For me its like footballer has had his foot cut off. Await call from surgeon on tissue biop for hopefully good news. Still am lucky not to be in Ukraine!! We sent clothes and money over. Least we could do!!