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 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 Luckyus

Sorry to hear that your husband has to wait 6 weeks for the results!  Is there no way you can get the results sooner?  I had to wait 2 weeks for mine but that seemed like an eternity.  I can't believe that they won't get the results sooner.  Have they sent him for an MRI scan?

Hope the results aren't as bad as you fear.

Take care

Marion x

Hi Marion

I thought i might call the hospital today to see if we can get in sooner we waited last time for 2 weeks and you are right even that was too long. if we wait the 6  weeks it will make it christmas week.Good or bad i dont even want to know anything about this disease at christmas. Thats my time of year!! selfish i know.

No scans have been mentioned at the moment they seem to be playing it down saying how early we have caught it and this laser should be the end of it. I am not stupid and i know that many people are told they should be ok and the Doctors are wrong so we will just have to wait and see.

thank you so much for all the advice you have given through this post over the past 6 weeks it has been so helpful.

Big hugs

Luckyus

Hi Michael,

Thanks for your message sorry its so long getting back. Yes have had the mask made and start on mon. I  am feeling a bit nervous but just want to get on with it now and get it over with. Thanks for all your advise and help will keep you in touch with whats happening.

All the best

Andy

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 Zacker.

Like I said it is nothing having the mask fitted when you have your radio. you get used to it just go in let them fit you to the table and forget about it, it dosnt hurt or feel anything, the only down fall is you get tired at the end of the treatment, but you will get over it soon. Lets hope this is all the treatment that you need, being one who has had it they dont usually advise it unless they think you need it. let me know how you get on.

All the best

michael.

Hi Luckyus

Thanks for your lovely reply, if I've helped in some way that's a very good feeling.

I hope you get the results back really soon and it's good news.

I'm keeping everything crossed!

Love Marion x

Hi Marion

Hospital called me back today my husbanda appointment will be the 22 Dec as he did not have a biopsy just laser treatment 2 weeks ago and the want that to heal before taking another look.

So my plan for Christmas: if its good news i am going to Party Party Party if its bad news then im still going to Party as its Christmas (MY TIME) and i think reading so many threads where people are not as lucky as i will be  to have this Christmas with their loved ones  then i shall still celebrate that. No its not my excuse to have a drink as i am tea total (apart from rum sauce that kicks a punch).

Thank you for thinking of us

Hugs

Luckyus

Hi Marion

Hospital called me back today my husbanda appointment will be the 22 Dec as he did not have a biopsy just laser treatment 2 weeks ago and the want that to heal before taking another look.

So my plan for Christmas: if its good news i am going to Party Party Party if its bad news then im still going to Party as its Christmas (MY TIME) and i think reading so many threads where people are not as lucky as i will be  to have this Christmas with their loved ones  then i shall still celebrate that. No its not my excuse to have a drink as i am tea total (apart from rum sauce that kicks a punch).

Thank you for thinking of us

Hugs

Luckyus