I have ACC in my trachea which was found in the summer last year, 2021. I've had radiotherapy, a couple of stents fitted to hold open my airway but the cancer is growing above and possibly below the stented and RT zapped area. My breathing capacity is reducing as the tumour is closing up the airway. I'm due to see the ENT people next week as an option is to insert a plastic tube into my airway to keep it open and that will also mean a tracheostomy.
A part of me that really wants to keep going tells me to go for it - at this point I know some of what's involved but would like to hear from anyone that has a permanent trache who can tell it like it really is. The bad, the dire and the ugly.
Another part of me keeps saying look, life will be utterly different, speech will be difficult along with the host of 'house keeping' aspects and perhaps I should accept that this next phase of my life will come to an abrupt halt and not have the trache op.
Thank you to anyone who'll share their experiences.
Hi Kj sorry to see you here. I can’t speak from personal experience but my step daughter’s partner was in a fire and had serious tracheal damage. He has a permanent trachy but with a valve that enables him to speak. He speaks up through his larynx but breathes through his trachy. I wonder if that would be possible?
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Hi Dani
Thanks so much for replying, none of us really wants to be on the forum do they and I hope you are staying good. There's not that much information on the net from patients although I have found a couple of YouTube videos like this one Keeping mucus thin with a trach - YouTube link for anyone else that sees this post, she has a couple that are very good.
I'm hoping that I'll have a speech valve and will know more next week but like most I'm not very good at the waiting bit 
Any more info you can share from your SIL's experiences would be appreciated.
Have a great day. Cath x
Forgot to say great blog you have 
Ah Cath. Thank you so much. I’ll get in touch with him to ask some questions for you
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Cath I’ve sent you a friend request can you accept please so that I can send more details
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
So pleased. Fingers crossed and let me know how you do
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Elaine I’m sure Cath is having this because she needs her trachea stented after treatment. To enable her to breathe.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
