| | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 6 Member | | Member
Joined: May 2010 Posts: 6 | Hi All,
I'd appreciate if any body can give me an approximate time line from the last radiation session till their voice returned to normal.
I have been undergoing Radiation therapy for 7 weeks along with Chemo therapy for Base of tongue cancer. Wednesday is my last session. I lost my voice about the 3rd week into the treatment- wondering how long it took for anyone else who lost their voice to get it back?
Last edited by tominator67; 06-06-2010 01:22 PM.
Tom Barry
Male 43 Years old Base of Tongue Cancer Stage 4
Diagnosed 01/20/2010
Also have Adult onset Stills disease
08/09/10 Clear PT Scan
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Likes: 1 | Tom, it was about another month or so after the end of RT until I could speak above a whisper. From there though it was still 3 or 4 more months before people began to tell me I was beginning to sound like myself. Amazing how long these things can take to heal! Naturally your experience might be different.
Hang in there!
David 2
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Remember we can all react differently. For me I only lost my voice for a very short time, less than a week, much to the chagrin of my wife.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 8 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 8 | I lost my voice for about 3 weeks in the last week of my treatments. Hope yours comes back soon.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I never lost my voice but did lose the ability to speak clearly. I still don't and I don't think I ever will, but what I can't say I spell.It's part of my life and some others on here now tho.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 | I lost mine completely for about a week, then it was just raspy and would come in and out if I talked to much so I would limit my speaking, that lasted for another 2 weeks. I'm 9 months out and still get a raspy voice from time to time, some say I sound relatively the same besides the slurred speech every now and then. Some people tell me my voice changed, maybe I should try to record it and see what I sound like!LOL
Dx 3/27/09 @ 28 years old with High Grade MEC T4N2M0
Elizabeth, 33, mother of 3 girls (4,7, &8yrs old)
3 rds of chemo(Carbo/Taxol)
Rt Mandibulectomy, rt fibular flap,& rt ND with trach, picc,& g-tube.
30 rds of rads with weekly cisplatin
SCANS ALL CLEAR!
OCF Regional Coordinator of San Antonio Walk
| | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 6 Member | | Member
Joined: May 2010 Posts: 6 | Thanks for the responses, I reealize we're all different, but your shared experiences give some type of time frame.
Thanks,
Tom
Tom Barry
Male 43 Years old Base of Tongue Cancer Stage 4
Diagnosed 01/20/2010
Also have Adult onset Stills disease
08/09/10 Clear PT Scan
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Elizabeth, Sing us a song in the form of a post and we just might get you on American idol With Susan Boyle. I bet you sound good.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 147 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 147 | Get a bicycle horn...........it makes not having a voice sort of fun.
DX 2/10/09; Stage 1 SCC side of tongue; Partial Gloss; PEG in 3/3/09; 3 Cisplatin; 35 IMRT; PEG out 7/17/09; Eating via mouth and walking 3 miles/day 4 wks after treatment end. 50 pound weight loss; Clear PET 09/09 and 09/10
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 | LOL Jim! I might get on AI at the beginning of the season where they make fun of people singing, everytime I try to sing at church, my voice cracks. I use to sing pretty good, was in choir but now I stick to singing in the shower only!lol
Dx 3/27/09 @ 28 years old with High Grade MEC T4N2M0
Elizabeth, 33, mother of 3 girls (4,7, &8yrs old)
3 rds of chemo(Carbo/Taxol)
Rt Mandibulectomy, rt fibular flap,& rt ND with trach, picc,& g-tube.
30 rds of rads with weekly cisplatin
SCANS ALL CLEAR!
OCF Regional Coordinator of San Antonio Walk
| | |
| Forums23 Topics18,286 Posts197,238 Members13,433 | | Most Online2,386
Nov 19th, 2025 | | |
This is another custom island. This one could be used for ads. This spot is one of the best places for ads on your site to be placed. This can be enabled/disabled on a per forum basis.
| | |
|
