Hello

Hi Ms Marvel

Hello welcome to this very friendly forum. Sorry about your recent diagnosis with throat cancer and your struggles with no voice.  I understand how this can  impact life as communication is a big part of us. Some tips I can share from me and how I have got round things -  I would let people that need to know about your problem and to make things easier for you to ask them to text or email  (I know it sounds obvious) and you could write things on the texts what you would find helpful.  You could let people  know that when they visit to  talk to you ask them to stay close when they are speaking  and keep eye contact with you as you can respond by your own hand signing or nodding for yes and no or writing,  they can also try to  read your lips.  Encourage them to ask  questions so you can  respond with nodding for  yes and no. It is really surprising how people adapt to help. Carrying a pen and paper is good, I  write in short text style for quickness. Also I write in quite big font as people  may not have their  reading glasses with them. When I go to the shops doctors pharmacy people are really good when they understand I have a problem. I move my head as to so no and do a speaking action with my hands and they are quick to help and give me full attention. I sometimes write or  use my hand to try to sign.  I can speak but I am difficult to understand. I have in the past made a  small  custom made card  using  a label from word and had this printed  then laminated  which read something like sorry unable to speak and used this too.  If you are expecting a phone call have someone there on speaker phone and have pen and paper ready so the person there can communicate  for you. 

I hope you find some of this helpful 

Best wishes 

Nicky

Hi and welcome from me too. What sort of throat cancer do you have? I had base of tongue cancer and never lost my voice. 
Nicky has given you some great tips. I hope you stick around here. There are lots of great people sharing their wisdom and love. 

Hi Nicky,

thank you for the tips and advice, I have already used a few of your suggestions and will definitely try others .

I really didn't realise how much it affects your day to day ,  simple things like answering the phone, so frustrating

But thank you xx

Hey Dani,

I have a left vocal cord tumour,  go back to hospital tomorrow to go through my treatment plan, probably will have radiotherapy as that's more affective to help my voice return. 

I unfortunately have had radiotherapy before (Jan 2021)  this was for a diagnosis of a brain tumour, fortunately this was benign and the treatment was just to halt its growth as it was located next to my optic nerve. All's well and stable with that at the moment .

I do have fantastic family and friends support but it's also good to be able to speak (pardon the pun ) to other people who are going rhrough similar circumstances so thank you for your response 

Xx

Ms Marvel, I found apps on my phone helpful when I was in hospital and unable to speak. You write and it speaks . I can't remember the name unfortunately but Google it for help. Wayne. 

Ahh, thank you Wayne,  I'll have a Google

The one I had for Android was called "Speech Assistant"