Im very sorry I missed your post! I havent had the surgery you are describing but Ive read hundreds of posts about it. One thing Ive learned over the years is that every single patient is different. Its next to impossible to compare what 2 patients experience even if they have the exact same diagnosis. Each patient has their own individual immune system and medical history all of which can play a major role in how they react to surgery, rads, chemo, recovery, medications, etc.
The most important thing the doctors need to do is to eliminate the cancer. I completely understand how important it is to be understood and speech impediments can be extremely difficult to live with. I had a good friend who is no longer with us who lived for several years using an ipad with type to talk function (Speak it). She was able to even use the telephone with this app. Theres also texting as another way to easily communicate if speech is affected. My friends voice was taken when her voice box was removed due to recurrent OC.
As far as treatments go, the only ways to eliminate OC for good are thru surgery or radiation with or without chemo. Alone, chemo is only used for palliative care, it will not work on killing the cancer. All these treatments come with their own set of side effects with possible long term and after care issues. Heres a link to the main OCF site, this will help explain everything in more detail.
Best wishes!!!
OCF Main --- Treatments