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 Marion and luckyus,

Feeling a lot better this week and on mon something fantastic happened, I answered the phone and to my surprise and delight I started talking!! Although it sounds v croaky something is happening and other people have stared to comment on it. I know its early days but I feel like I may be turning a corner and it has boosted my spirits no end! One of the new trainers at the gym came up to me the other day and said ' hey your speaking, i've never heard you speak before' !

I'm being cautious though as I know its 1 step up the ladder and I have a long way to go but its a start and i'm so happy! Got my hospital appt next weds so keeping my fingers crossed although not sure what they will do as i havent been given a scan date yet, guess they will have a look with the camera. Will let you know how I get on.

Hope all is good with you both

Love Andy

Hi Andy

Must be our week for good news my husband was back at the hospital today and (at least for now) has the all clear again they dont want to see him for another 4 months i hope your appointment is as good as ours so pleased you are getting your normal voice back it is something we all take for granted (until it has gone)

Must dash just wanted to keep you all posted

Luckyus

Dear luckyus

I have been wondering how things were going with you.I am so pleased you got good news from the hospital.I went to see them today and they dont want me back for 3 months except for one little ultresound.Maybe this year will be easyer than the last.

Hi Andy

That's really geat news - you must be over the moon!

You may find that your voice will just get stronger by the day and some days it might take a dip but don't panic as that's what happened to me.  It won't be long before you have your normal voice back to how it was in the days before the dysplacia.  When I went back to work after my treatment everyone was really surprised by my 'new' (old) voice as they had only known me with a husky voice.  A few were disappointed though as they preferred the husky one .  Just look after it now and no shouting!  Funny how we take things for granted - I didn't realise how precious my voice was until I lost it.

Hope you get on alright at your appointment next week but I'm sure everything will be fine.  Obviously let us know!

If you hear from Chris let me know when you get a date to meet up.

Take care Andy, I'm so happy for you.

Love Marion x

Hi Luckyus

What great news!  You and your husband must be so relieved to have a 4 month reprieve!  Now you can make plans and enjoy yourselves without this horrible fear hanging over your heads .

Keep in touch and send a personal message any time you want a girlie chat.

Love Marion x

Hi Grumpy

Three lots of good news at once!  Great that you don't have to go back for 3 months, your onc/consultant must be really pleased with you.

Hope this year will be a healthier one for you.

Love Marion x

Hey thats great news! Looks like he is out of the woods and will not have to go through any more treatment, you must be very relieved and happy to be able to put this behind you. Thanks for your good wishes.

Andy

Thanks Marion for your positive words it would be truly amazing if I could get my old voice back but have a feeling I may not be that lucky but if I can get enough back so that people can hear me that would be great, I'm txting chris later so will mention we need to pencil in a date for our get together. Really looking forward to it. :-) Will let you know how i get on woth my appointment

Love Andy

Hi Andy

I still think you will get your old voice back but if it's not the same, then your new voice will be much better than it was over the last year or so.  I'm sure it can only get better now so that by the time we meet up, there will be no stopping us .

Anyway, have a great weekend and hope you get a date from Chris.

Good luck with your appointment!

Love Marion x

Hi Marion & Andy

Thank you so much for your good wishes and continueous support it has really helped me through this when i put my name as luckyus it was 6am in the morning and it was a very sarcastic name now i do think lucky us just hope he stays clear from now on good news is he gave up smoking the day he found out and has not smoked since ( but why oh why did he have to get this first) well thats all for now

Love from meeeeeeeee

Hi Marion & Andy

Thank you so much for your good wishes and continueous support it has really helped me through this when i put my name as luckyus it was 6am in the morning and it was a very sarcastic name now i do think lucky us just hope he stays clear from now on good news is he gave up smoking the day he found out and has not smoked since ( but why oh why did he have to get this first) well thats all for now

Love from meeeeeeeee

Well its a great incentive for him to give up and don't think about the why's just think about the future and also giving up smoking will hopefully help him avoid other problems. Sometimes our bodies have harsh ways of giving us wake up calls! Have a good w/e

Love Andy

Hi Andy

So pleased to read your voice is getting stronger may it long continue  an old saying came to mind reading your post " you don't know what you have got until it has gone" i think this is so true but thank goodness yours is coming back.

best wishes

Luckyus

Hi Luckyus

It's a great name!  When I first joined Cancerchat I couldn't think of anything to call myself so just went with my name (not very adventurous!)

Your husband has done the right thing giving up smoking as we're always hearing that smoking is one of the main causes of cancers to the throat (not that it was the case with me and Andy).  Hope he keeps up the good work!

Speak to you soon.

Love Marion x