Scared Husbands voice box being removed tomorrow

Hello Polo, sorry you find yourself here.

There are several of us on here, myself included, who've had a laryngectomy and still have a good quality of life; I had mine seventeen months ago and I'm very content with where my health is now..

It's difficult to comment on your husband without a little more information; for example, is this his first cancer in the throat area or has he been treated before in any way? What, if any, speech options are planned?

Sorry I can't be more immediately helpful, but I would just say that I understand the "world crumbling" feelings completely, but it can be rebuilt.

Hi Polo and welcome from me too. 
My first husband had a laryngectomy and he recovered to have a good life and an excellent voice. 
Good luck to you both tomorrow 

Thanks MikeO for your reply and so pleased to hear your comments regarding your health now.

This is my husbands first cancer, which is stage 4. Up until 9 months ago he was a very fit 52 year old. He went to our gp last September  complaining of a sore throat and a change in his voice, they were completely looking in the wrong place and was only diagnosed 3 weeks ago.

we are hoping that he will be able to have the valve fitted, I’m not up on the correct terminology yet

He is being super brave and I have been trying to take one day at a time whilst still working. I know it sounds incredibly selfish but my next fear is seeing him in intensive care as I am the most pathetic person when it come to blood and I don’t want to let him down

First up, it's a "good" thing that he's not had treatment before, I had radio and chemo in 2014 so had to have what's called a "salvage" laryngectomy in 2020, radiotherapy does long term tissue damage making the op more difficult (like trying to sew cardboard together my surgeon said).

The op on healthy tissue will be "easier" and, although I obviously can't say for sure, he'll probably have a TEP (tracheoesophageal puncture) put in place which will hold a voice prostheseis, it's the best method achieving speech post op, video example below. Again because of my damage, I couldn't have one.

www.youtube.com/watch

Also I was sixty by then and not really very fit at all so that works in his favour as well!

Being a "neck breather" sounds like it's going to be totally life changing but once you get used to the routine it's really no problem, breathing feels exactly the same, no sensation whatsover that your breathing is any different from before; swimming is a thing of the past but I think that's about the only restriction on me.

Life is good, if a little different. Wish you both all the very best for tomorrow, keep us updated and ask anything. I'll tag chris2012 into this thread as he's a laryngectomee as well so might want to add something.

Thank you so much for your positive reply, you have given me hope for the future.

My son and I are off to see him this afternoon, will keep you informed of his progress 

Thanks Dani, that is so reassuring to hear 

Hi I to am a Laryngectomee, I had mine nearly 2 years ago and my symptoms were the same as your Husband's my Consultant luckily told me preior to the operation that she would be fitting a voice valve so at least I knew hopefully I would be able to speak after, he should be prepared though that he will not have a voice- in my case 3 weeks- as everything has to settle down and heal so those weeks are fun communicating via written and lips !

You both should have speach therapists so speak to them as they will be the ones who will be his guardian angels for the rest of his life with support of all kinds.

Hope eveything goes well and as the others have said come back with any questions as one of us will have an answer

All the Best, Tony

Thanks Tony,

My husband has seen speech and language but I haven’t as yet.

Amazing you were able to speak after 3 weeks. We are really hoping that the valve can be fitted during surgery but they haven’t said for sure.

I was pretty lucky as I passed the leak test quite quickly so the healing had started, everyone is different thats why when we all give our own experiences, I was back at work after 3 months but this year my secondary cancer struck so am just starting to get back fromChemo and RT which did knock the hell out of me so won't know until June if they caught this one - Oesophagus but no connection to my voicebox cancer so please don't panic!. I refused RT after the surgery am pleased I did with after effects of this one, but then the pros and cons, the cons won, as Mike O says the damage is so big they have to salvage the area but all I can advise is any questions or queries either you 2 have, write them down so you can remember them at each consultation or meeting with the Speech Therapists and we found it best both of us went in case we missed something.

Tony

I’m sorry to hear that you have had to go through it again. I myself had triple negative bc 10 years ago when I was 38, so i understand how difficult the chemo and radiotherapy journey will have been for you.

They have mentioned radiotherapy could be a possibility, both yours and mikeo comments make me question if it is such a good idea.