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 Grumpy

My family are always telling me i have a big head, but i love the thought of drawing a smily face on any bald patches.

best wishes and keep in touch

Luckyus

Hi Luckyus

I've just realised that I didn't reply to you - sorry!

Hope the x-ray came back all clear - hopefully no news is good news and they would normally be in touch quite quickly.  Let us know how he gets on.

It's my next appointment on Wednesday and I'm not really looking forward to it as I have been hoarse for weeks now but have resisted bringing forward my appointment as I normally do.  Hopefully I will get the same result as I have done in the past nearly 4 years - that all is OK.

Take care.

Marion x

Hi Marion

Got a letter this week to say Xrays were clear ( thank goodness)

I really hope your appointment went ok and you got good results. I hope your voice has returned and you are feeling better. My fingers and toes are crossed for you

Luckyus x

Hi Luckyus

I'm so glad your husband's X-Ray results were clear - another weight off your minds.

My appointment was fine thanks (phew).  My consultant wants me to go to cancer survivor (head and neck) group therpy once a month as I'm finding it hard to move on.  He said he wants to discharge me next year at my 5 year appointment but he knows I will keep coming back for reassurance!  I constantly worry about the cancer coming back and I obviously want to be happy in life without this dark cloud looming over my head and this worry everytime my voice is hoarse.  He said my voice will probably get worse as I get older bearing in mind wear and tear and the damage already caused by radiotherapy.  I just need to look after it more and stop raising my voice over background noise - which is very hard when you're in a noisy environment.

Anyway, I'm relieved for now and I start my group therapy on 12 July.

Hope your husband continues to be healthy and will keep an eye out for your posts.

Love Marion x

Hi Marion

I am so pleased you got the all clear again (it has been hard these past few days eating and walking with my fingers and toes crossed xx). I think unless you have truely been affected by Cancer you can understand the fear that every appointment, cough,or sore throat brings.  Good luck with your therepy but i think time will be the only cure, remember im always at the end of a computer (well not always but often).

Such good news so pleased for you

Luckyus

Hi Marion,

Great news on your last appointment and I think the fact your ocnsultant wants to release you next year must mean he's very confident your near being cured. I think the group therapy is a great idea it will help you put things into perspective and help manage your worry as I know exactly where your coming from, the worry never really goes away but I do think now your in year 4 post treatment you can start to let your self off the hook a bit!! as far as worrying goes

I had my check up with Rt consultant today and he had a look down and its all clear which was a relief although on this occasion I felt quite relaxed about it, don't ask me why??

He says theres still swelling there and that the edges of the vocal chords are slightly rough from the treatment and lasering and that in time they should heal and get smoother which will improve my voice, this could take another 18 months. However i'm inclined to think this is as good as its going to get and they are perhaps being a bit optimistic, but hey I can live with it and most days am able to communicate ok which was my main worry and off course getting rid of the cancer.

We must get together again soon, havent contacted chris as I didnt want to bother him but guess he will get in touch if he has any news.

Anyway good luck with the group therapy and let me know how you get on and try not to worry, your almost there!!

Speak soon.

Andy x

Hi Lucky Us,

Great news on your husbands results, you must be relieved. Sounds like he's doing really well and so good that he hasn't had to have RT or any more lasering, they must have got it v early. Hopefully things will stay this way. Well done!!

Andy x

hi zarker i can see from your posts that you had t 1 cancer of the vocal chord and had laser for it etc my husband had laser on his t1 about 2 months ago and we went back for a check up last week and they found a lesion on it  so we now need to go back in for more laser and a biopsy just in case its cancer my husband and my self are scared in case its back! how many times did you have laser before they decided on rt?

Hi just bumping you back up to the top i see Zarker has not been on for a little while but hopefully he will see your question soon

Luckyus

thanks lucky us hope all ok xx

thanks lucky us hope all ok xx