Good evening guys.
Ive recently just turned 30 and My dad has been diagnosed with Laryngeal Cancer. And to say I'm heart broken is an understatement!
He has been given the options of Surgery or RT & Chemo. Surgery will completely remove his voice box, glands and gullet. They will then have to take a skin graph off his thigh to reconstruct the gullet, so he will be able to eat foods.
RT & Chemo will be given if he goes for this option, but there's a risk that the tumour will not shrink and get bigger. And then at this point, there is nothing more that the Dr's could do, as it will become a more aggressive cancer.
Has anyone been in this situation before? And could give me some insight on this?
I would really like someone to talk to as I'm finding it hard to process this. I would also like to give him some hope and guidance to reassurance him that this is Life Changing, not life ending.
Good evening ShanDan, sorry to hear this, i had my voicebox removed in 2010 but did not have to have my gullet reconstructed but have had my lower jaw reconstructed with skin grafts taken from my thigh and a bit of bone from my leg to make a new lower jaw, i know its a different operation but its just an example of how skilled and successful these surgeons and drs are with great recovery rates. I cannot speak anymore yet i have learned how to adapt to other ways of communication which will be explained later after he has recovered from the surgery ( if he chooses this option) it sounds very promising if this surgery will give him a chance of eating again. I know it all sounds worrying at the moment but he will be in good hands and everything will be explained to him, i found it best to take things a day at a time rather than thinking too much ahead. The issue with radio and chemo is that it can only be done once in that area, it can also damage the surrounding skin tissue making surgery in the future a bit trickier but not impossible. Its goods news that your dad has been offered both surgery and chemo/radio as they must be confident there is a chance of him making a good recovery, it might be life-changing but we find ways of adapting and coping. You are welcome to read my story by clicking on my profile name it just gives a brief outline of my treatments and recovery. Wishing you and your dad all the best, take care.
Chris xx
Its sometimes not easy but its worth it !
