Hi Zarker

I had severe displacia of the vocal chords around 5 years ago and was told that I needed laser treatment immediately as it "was very close to cancer". I had laser treatment a few times and had to have biopsies done around every 2 - 3 months but in my case it had gone too deep so they could only laser the surface and it kept coming back. If you are a smoker you should give it up immediately as my consultant told me to avoid smoke at all costs.

I went on to have larygneal cancer but I was stage T2-3 when I was eventually diagnosed. I was successfully treated with radiotherapy 28 months ago and touch wood everything is fine and my voice is better than it's been for years.

On a positive note they are closely monitoring you and as you are at a very early stage hopefully they will be able to get rid of it with laser treatment alone.

I wish you well and hope that the next laser treatment will be the end of it.

Marion x

Hi Marion ,

Thanks very much for your reply it was most helpful. I hope you don't mind me asking but how long was it from when they found displacia to you being diagnosed with laryngeal cancer? As this is what I think may be happening to me. They said inicially It could be treated with laser alone and after my last laser treatment yesterday that the return was on the surface only and did not warrant rdiotherapy at the moment and he had done deeper biopsys which he says hes sure arn't cancerous. This has as you know been a very difficult time for me as i'm so scared of loosing my voice or having to have a laryngectomy which I've been told is unlikely. i'm reassured to know that after your treatment your voice is now good. Thank you again and I hope you continue to do well. Andy

p,s gave up smoking 5 years ago and after this will never go back to it!

Hi Michael

I was staged at T3 N1 but I don't smoke either, although the doctors jump to conclusion that it's smoking that causes it. Who knows if passive smoking is a contributor though - I've been to lots of smoky pubs in the past. Thank God for the smoking ban! I still think that my inhalers for asthma could be the cause as I have to take 2 inhalers twice a day every day. My consultant has blamed it on my genes!

You're right, there seems to be an increase in neck cancers, you may have seen from an earlier post that my daughter's friend has laryngeal cancer and she's only 30! I'm going to see her next week to answer any questions she has about the treatment. She starts in 3 weeks time.

Great that you are doing OK - keep up the good work!

Love Marion x

Hi Marion.

Iam sorry to hear about your friend got the same as me, did you say that you have just got back fron new york. I want to go abroad but I worried that the plane air and the traveling might affect my stoma I have been to america twice once to texas on a buddy holly trip and tice to florida. I would like to go again but can't take the risk.

Glad to hear that you are ok. and it sounds like zacker is going through a bit of a time, I also go on cancer chat site and I am helping a lady who's mam is going for the same op as me and she is worried.

Best of health to you Marion.

Love Michael.

Hi Michael

A very close freind of mine had a total laryngeoctomy about 10 years ago at the age of 62. she went back to full time work after and started biking all round town ( only on good days) and helped on the ward for patients going through this horrible time. She passed away 7 years later ( the cancer never returned) how i wish i could talk to her now i was just so lucky that we talked so much while she was here and why we were so quick to get my husband checked out.

he was in yesterday for another biopsy and to have his vocal cord lasered so a bit of TLC today thanks for letting me jump into your long standing post but it has been such a great help.

Hugs to all

Luckyus

Hi Luckyus.

I havent been on for a while,your husband is in for laser treatment again, I had iy done, sorry to hear about your friend. I had my total 3 years now and more or less back to normal, like I told a friend of mine I did a abseil this year for the kids cancer, it was only 65 ft I thought it was great. how is your husband now, have they told him what treatment he will need or will this treatment solve his problem, I have got a friend who's mum may be going into hospital for a major op, soon, I have been helping with a bit of advice on my own experance hoping it will help. how old is your husband, did they ask him at the hospital do you drink, smoke etc. it seems to be the same questions everywhere in the country, is he still in hospital if so give him all me best tell him to hang on in there as it will come alright in the end. let me know how you get on, also how are you getting on I bet it is a bit of a shock for you, I have 3 daughters you can see how much I got looked after.

Lots of love, hope to hear from you .

michael.

Hi Micheal

My Husband is 55 we wait 6 weeks now to find out what happens next he is very sorry for himself today, Yes the hospital did ask the questions about drinking and smoking he has smoked all his adult life and the last 20 years cigars only ( the small ones).

This has always been my fer after my friend got it i leart all the statistics but he never thought it would happen to him.

We have 2 daughters.

will write again when i have new news

pleased you have got your life back on track and good for you doing the absailing

Take care

Luckyus

Hi Luckyus

.

I know how he must be feeling, when I was going for biopsy's I had 2. You think why havent they fixed it last time, the thing about cancer you can never tell what will happen with it. They say smoking doesnt help but I got it and dont smoke. like I said I am 66 now and have had cancer for 3 years been into hospital a couple of times but sorted now not the way I would have liked, but back to normal all exept playing golf, it is two much effert to do now, back to diy, playing my guitar's etc. wish your husband all the best from me hope he gets back to normal again, let me know how he gets on.

michael.

Hi lucky us,

Just read your post. Sorry to hear about the delay for your husband and his treatment. Did they have any ides'a about what they think the next move will be? I can't remember if you said he had already had laser treatment?

I smoked on and off from when I was a teenager and stopped about 7 years ago. I was only a social smoker so would have a few when out drinking with friends so  guess that could have contributed to it and I do like a drink, not excessive, but like a good few glasses of wine with a meal or a few beers with friends, again only socially, so I know that will all have to change after my treatment.

I think my biggest fear is of loosing my voice box as your friend did, although my consultant has assured me this won't happen, I just don't think I could cope with that as I love talking and am a good communicator, however it sounds like michael has done really well since his op, he's probably made of tougher stuff than me, so well done to him.

I start my radiotherapy a week mon, am very nervous about how it will affect me physically although the doctor seems to be fairly optimistic that it won't be too bad, but i'm prepared to put up with whatever  if this can clear it up for good, fingers crossed. I think with all this waiting is the worst thing as you then have time to dwell on things and the worry goes into over drive. I think when they told me about the RT I just thought great! lets get on with it! I really hope you get some news soon. As you've noticed with us its not a quick fix but at least we are all aware we have a problem and are being monitered carefully and are in good hands so that hopefully in the not too distant future we can all move on from this and get on with our lives.

Will let you know I get on and if you ever need any advice please, just ask,  without wanting to sound naff, you are part of our group and we will look out for each other. just noticed that over 10,500 people have viewed our posts! So hopefluuy we are helping othes too.

Best wishes to you and your husband.

Andy ( zarker)

Hi Zacker.

I read your post to luckyus, have you had radiotheropy before I had 6 weeks of it it is not to bad , do you have to have a mask fitted for the radio, I did it might sound bad but it is nothing I had the radio once a day but some people have it a few times, the only thing is you get tired as the treatment goes on I also had a dry mouth but I got some arificial siliva and you spray it in your throat and it is great.

let me know how your treatment gets on all the best to you.

michael joeninty

Hi Michael

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you but I can only use the computer at work as mine one at home is so slow I don't go on it anymore.

Yes I did go to New York for 5 days in October and had a fantastic time.  The purpose of the visit was to take my 25 year old son who had testicular cancer last Christmas and went through a really rough time with the chemo so I booked the holiday to give him something to look forward to as he has always wanted to go.  It's sad that you are not able to fly long distances now because you are worried about your stoma.

You sound like you are getting on with it - you're an inspiration.  I admit I would find it very hard to cope without my voice as I've always been a talker!

Take care and we'll no doubt keep in touch.

Love Marion x

Hi Andy

Just a quick message to say good luck for Monday!  Keep us updated while you can.  You might not feel like going on-line in a few weeks time but we will be thinking of you.

Love Marion x

Hi Andy

Just a quick message to say good luck for Monday!  Keep us updated while you can.  You might not feel like going on-line in a few weeks time but we will be thinking of you.

Love Marion x

Hi Marion,

Thanks for that,  had a dry run yday with mask, its very tight and feels a bit claustrophobic but guess I'll get used to it. They say the fields ( where the beam hits) are quite small and low down in the larynx and not near my mouth so I shouldn't have saliva problems so fingers crossed on that, but I know its not going to be a walk in the park. Ironically my voice is not too bad at the moment, sods law I guess!

Went to see my GP yday who had the notes from the meeting of disciplinary team who were deciding my treatment and was saying some of the people were against RT saying my cancer was in situ and not invasive so therefore didn't warrant it, but my consultant was convinced it was just about to become invasive and really pushed for the RT, apparently they were thrashing it out for 1 and half hours! My doctor thinks he's made the right decision and I feel its right too as I just want an end to this.

Any way will let you know how I get on and hope all is good with you.

Love

Andy

Hi Marion,

Almost completed my first week of RT and as expected not really feeling much different, as I'm told the side effects don't kick in for about another week, so making the most of the time and eating as much as I can while I still can!  I called chris on fri and had a long chat with him, he's doing really well and has got his voice back, it was good to put the voice to the name so to speak and he is up for a meet when I've recovered from the treatment so perhaps we could get together with him for a coffee or a glass of wine some time in the new year.

My consultant is confident about the treatment and thinks there will be some improvement in my voice afterwards so keeping my fingers crossed. I' know the next few months are not going to be easy and now is the calm before the storm so i'm bracing my self for whats to come and really looking forward to spring time! Hope all is well with you.

Love Andy

Morning Andy (Zarker)

Just wanrted to say thank you for starting this post you must realise how much good has been done by it just by how many people have read it.

Good luck with the RT and please continue to let us know what is happening and how you are getting on.

We all start on here as strangers but very quickly because people are so open and honest they soon feel like friends.

All the best with your treatment will keep reading the thread (nearly a year old now)

Hugs

Luckyus

Hi lucky us,

Its really good to hear that and I'm glad it has helped others as it has helped me. Its strange as when I first posted I  was only expecting to get perhaps one or 2 replies so I could get a bit of info from others who had the same thing and now year later and the rest is history as they say. I was surprised to see how many other people have read it so its good to see that perhaps something positive has come from our ailments.

Keeping my fingers crossed that your husbands results will be good as there's got to be at least one person on here that gets through this relatively easily so perhaps it will be him, lets hope so. Will keep you poted. Have a great w/e.

Andy

Hi Zacker.

I see you have started radio how may weeks are you having it for, like I said the down fall of it is that you get tired as it goes on but it will pass, wher are you having it,look after your self.  keep in touch and let me know if you would like help with anything.

michael.

Hi Luckyus.

How is you husband any news yet, I know the waiting is the worse bit not knowing, I went to the hospital yesterday to talk to students that are in the second year of radiotheraopy doctors to talk about what we had and what we thought that could be done from them to make it better for the patients, we were asked by the cancer in wales to give this talk about what I thought could be changed from the patients point of view, at the end one of the doctors passed out didnt know I had that effect on people ( joke ).

I think it is talking about what I had gone through that upset her, its nice to know they have the same feelings as me.  hope other people read this and see that some future doctors are interested.

Let me know how your husband is getting on, there is always people on here that care.

michael. 

Hi Joeninty

So nice to hear from you again.

my husband waits until 22 Dec before we know more found ut yesterday he did not have a biopsy just laser

what a good thing there are people like you to talk to students so that they do realise this is happpening to real people and their familys good on you.

I am very lucky in having loving family and friends but sometimes i feel as thoguh i dont want to burden them with my thoughts on here you can say exactly what you need to and know people (like you) care

Thank you my stranger friend. our paths have crossed for i dont know how long but i am so grateful to have you to type to

Luckyus

Hi Luckyus.

Why have you got to wait so long for the results, when I had my laser I only waited 2 weeks before they told me what had happened. where in the country do you live it seems that different places have different ways of doing things, how does your husband feel is he better or is it getting him down, all you can do is be there for him and give lots of love. The thing about this site is there is always someone to talk to, as it isn't the best of topics to talk about. when I had my major op, it helped to talk to someone that had the same as me and seeing how he was then. look after youself tell him we are thinking about him. keep in touch.

michael.

Hi there, must say i'm slightly surprised about the wait. Did they not do a biopsy when they did the laser? When I had my first laser I found out within a week. Perhaps they feel that it does'nt look like anything serious, which if thats is the case is good. If your in any doubt though go back and tell them if your concerned about the wait as six weeks is a fair time and it would help put your mind at rest to know what is happening and what the course of treatment will be if any. Hope you get some answers soon.

Andy

Hi Michael

We live in Lincolnshire and we have to wait as they didn't do a biopsy so they have to wait until the scaring from the laser is healed so the can make sure there is nothing left i rang hospital last week and the secetery spoke to the consultatnt who told us this.

His throat is still very sore but he is doing ok he went back to work a few days after the op and although he feels more tired (and grumpy) hes ok

This is such a great site as you are talking to people who really understand (unfotunatly for them). I appreciate you thinking of us but if i told him he would just laugh at me. he burries his head in the sand and i want to know it all (oppisites attract and all that).

Thinking about you too thank you for all your help

Luckyus