My Ex and the father of my daughter was diagnosed with stage 4TA cancer of the voice box, He has previously had cancer in the voice box but underwent treatment 3 years on the cancer came back. He has now undergone a full laryngectomy pharagectomy and reconstruction. He still lives in our with our daughter I just want to know what prognosis and plan they wil have for him next as nothing is ever discussed with us within a family unit, He is currently in critical care I am not sure whether he will need extra care at home and I cannot leave my daughter whi is 17 responsible for that whilst I work. Please can someone help us get the right support and advise to any help we may be able to get and how long my ex will need support for we have no other family
Hi aj. I'll tag Kasvin who might be able to help. Give the macmillan helpline a ring (number at the end of my post) somebody there will be able to steer you in the right direction.
Meanwhile you could look at the National association of Laryngectomy clubs for some useful info https://www.laryngectomy.org.uk/
It goes without saying that you should be given a going home package from the hospital and help from your GP practice
Hope some of this helps
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Hi AJ,
I picked up the tag from Beesuit ( Dani), I have been through a Laryngectomy so have my own experiences with it.
The link that Dani gave you is the Laryngectomy club who have some excellent information you can also look on both MacMillan and Cancer Research for more details.
If your Ex has had previous treatment for Throat Cancer then quite a lot would be more difficult with the Laryngectomy, I am assuming that he most likely had Chemo and Radiotherapy, in which case the RT does so much damage to the tissue that the throat has to be rebuilt and that could be why he is in critical care unit as it would be a far more invasive surgery than we have. This in mind quite often they cannot fit a voice prothesis in the rear of the windpipe, this enables speech still being normal with special HME attachments to the trachy so he will possibly have alternate means of communicating but don’t despair the speech therapists after care will help with all that
As for support once the initial after op care has taken place he would be trained on how to take care of the trachy and other parts again by the Speech Therapists, I was back at work after 2 months speaking to clients and in general having a normal life. I did not have after RT as the risk of damage and the benefit of it wasn’t measuring up for me so refused the follow-up. My second cancer was in no way related to the Throat Cancer.
I hope all goes well and as Dani says come back on or contact the helpline if you need further support but rest assured the Hospital will have advice and support in all areas and there is most likely a MacMillan support in the Hospital ENT Unit
Take care
Tony
We will move mountains to help people with cancer live life as fully as they can.
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Onwards and Upwards
Voicebox Cancer- Laryngectomy 2020 and Oesophagus survivor 2022
Adminitrative Assistant at Frimley Park Hospital, Cancer Support Hub
