Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | It could be from rad but more likely from your continued smoking.
If it is on your voice box, it may result in a total laryngetcomy which means you will have a permanent trach and now breath through your neck only. Voice can be restored through a TEP, electro larynx, Utlra voice if you wear dentures, or esaphageal speech. Some may lose the ability to speak altogether.
I have a TEP. I have a small slit in the back of the trach wall where they put a small prosthesis with a small hole in it. When you cover the hole in your neck, the prosthesis forces the air up the esaphagus and out of your throat and allows you to speak. Not everyone is a candidate for a TEP. Only your surgeon could answer that.
I do hope you do not have to have this surgery, but you did ask the question and hopefully I answered it. Keep us posted.
Take care, Eileen
---------------------- Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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