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 Lucky us.

Nice to see that your husband has got the all clear again, I know how he feels, I went for my 4 month one and got the all clear again, not bad after 3 years since op.

About holiday insurance, I know they charge more for cancer patients I have a list off mcmillan that give address for companys that deal in cancer insurance.

I wanted insurance for a 5 day hoilday in June and I was told to try the post office, you phone them up on the number on there holiday form and answer question about the cancer and treatment.

As I am not having treatment or going into hospital, they told me I could insure with them, I took it out and it was a lot cheaper than other quotes I had got.

Hope this might help.

Joeninty.

Hi Joeninty

Thanks so much will give the post offfice a call all worth trying the best so far is world first travel but i am still looking

pleased all is still going so well for you too

Thanks again

Luckyus

     Hi all Apologies for hijacking your thread but i am two weeks post radiotherapy for t1 vocal, chord cancer, i am really struggling with my voice, and i know you all understand my frustration! what worries me though is that i coped really well during treatment, no problems eating or swallowing (i had 6 weeks radio) and coped on paracetamol and ibuprofen, but my voice is still getting worse, when after two weeks i was hoping it may at least show signs of adjusting a little even if not getting any better?

Hi Topstriker

as you can see my husband was lucky enough not to need radiotherapy but i know people who have so i am just bumping you back up until someone comes on that may be able to help.

Best of luck on your journey

Luckyus

Hi Luckyus

I just wanted to say how pleased i am your luck is holding and giving your husband lovely clear scans.I  hope you have a great holiday.My husband gets around the insurance by getting family cover via his bank.

Hi Grumpy

Yes i do believe we are one of the very lucky  ones funny i choose the name at 530am at work was so desperate for help at the time "luckyus" was a sarcastic saying as like most people i did not want to use my name but it has been lucky us so far

as for insurance i am guessing you are on about one of those do it all account i asked our bank about this and he was not covered so well done your bank.

best wishes to all

Luckyus

Hi Luckyus,

Thanks for that, i have spoken to marion a few times before i started treatment, but they have changed things a bit on here since then, zarker is another guy i have read about a lot and seems to have had similar issues so hopefully they will be able to offer some advice!

Hi Topstriker

Sorry to hear that you are having worries about your voice.  I had the same as you after treatment - my voice was OK for a couple of weeks and then it went completely and I thought that the treatment hadn't worked!  I spoke to my oncologist at the time and she said that it was normal for that to happen as the radiotherapy continues to work for many weeks after the treatment has finished.  You may find (like Andy) that your voice might not be as good as t was before but it will get better than it it now - it's very early days for you.  My voice went back to normal after a couple of months so I was very lucky but as the years have gone by (4 years since my treatment) I find that it strains very easily and I have good days and "husky" days.

You should have a chat with your consultant/oncologist at your next appointment and hopefully they will be able to put your mind at rest.  I'm off on holiday tomorrow for 2 weeks but wish you well and I will log onto Cancer Chat when I get back so if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Love Marion x

Hi All

Glad to hear that everyone is still doing well, sorry if I haven't replied to you all but I don't log on very often these days.

Hope you all continue to keep well and "see" you in a couple of weeks - I'm off to Zante!

Andy - we'll meet up when I get back.

Love Marion x

Hi Marion

Hope you have a great holiday and for your continued good wishes

Luckyus

Hi Marion

Hope you have a great holiday and for your continued good wishes

Luckyus