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#2930 07-06-2004 01:55 PM
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The results of my husband Jack's first CT/PET scans since his second surgery were great. They said everything was "clear" although there was one spot that was a little "fuzzy" probably due to scarring or swelling. We're happy campers.

The trach will have to remain in for some time. He pretty much expected this since he still can't take care of the secretions. He is pretty content putting up with the trach and the feeding tube. Not being able to talk is much more frustrating.

He is using a demo of a Dynawrite to type what he wants to speak. He finds it hard to edit (or should I say correct) what he has typed. Does anyone have a speech assistive device that they would recommend? Or maybe some software to use with a laptop??

Thanks to all for all the suggestions you have given us.

Lowanne

#2931 07-06-2004 03:59 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
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Lowanne, that's great news about the follow up scan. Sometimes the first follow up PET shows a low amount of uptake because of healing, next scan it should be less.

Don't know much about the Dynawrite, may be some text to speech software on pc available. I know I get e-books that have text to speech capability.

Bob


SCC Tongue, stage IV diagnosed Sept, 2002, 1st radical neck dissection left side in Sept, followed by RAD/Chemo. Discovered spread to right side nodes March 2003, second radical neck dissection April, followed by more RAD/Chemo.
#2932 07-07-2004 03:50 AM
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Every Apple Macintosh computer for the last 5 years has had the ability to read/speak written words, no matter what they are composed in (I use Microsoft Word), in a variety of different voices. You can just type in a paragraph, sentence, or whole document and let it speak the document to you. It stumbles over highly technical words, and tries to pronounce them by some algorithm that isn't always accurate, but for something that comes free in every computer of theirs, it is a really good solution. The difference between this solution and the professional multi-thousands-of-dollars units that are out there is that the others will say each word as you type it and the computer recognizes it. Apple requires that the words are highlighted and then you hit a speak text button and it will speak them.


Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
#2933 07-07-2004 07:47 AM
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Lowanne,

Congratulations on Jack's great news!

I use Windows XP Professional and Word 2003. I know XP and WIndows 2000 comes with a text to speech engine and Word 2002 and Word 2003 have the capability to convert text to speech. The Language Bar automatically loads with Word when I start it. You just click on the options arrow and click "Speak Text". You type something and highlight it, then click on the Speak button on the Language Bar and it reads back what is highlighted.

I hope this helps.

Ed


SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
#2934 07-07-2004 07:56 AM
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Hi
I have downloaded some free software on to a borrowed laptop.
www.readplease.com.. it's really easy to use and quick..change of voices and speed to suit.. I am going to be depending on it..
sunshine... love and hugs
Helen


SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
#2935 07-08-2004 02:38 PM
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Bob, Brian, Ed,and Helen

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm going to do some investigating the word processing that does text to speech.

Lowanne


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