PET -> Lung Cancer?

To Sharon
I would like to suggest to your laryngectomee husband that he attempt esophageal speech from time to time. I attended the Pacific Northwest Larygectomy Conference (as a patient), and was told back in the 50's and 60's (before electro larynx and TEP's) about 60% of laryngectomees obtained useful esophageal speech. Today the number is 1%. (It is much like the SpellChecker preventing the younger generation from learning how to spell.) I have developed very functional esophageal speech on my own.

I think there is little downside for trying esophageal speech. (The downside is a lot of frustration for the laryngectomee and for his/her listener.) Start by getting the FREE voice recorder from my website www.richardwalloch.com You see I have absolutely nothing to sell or promote. (My voice recorder application may not work; then, just delete it. It does not modify your computer's registry or anything else.)

Then have him try to swallow or "almost swallow" and then make any sound, like the "k" sound. Then a simple word like "cake". If he drinks Pepsi/Coke and burbs, try to speak thru the burb and right after the burp.

I really believe that if healthcare providers encouraged esophageal speech, about 60% of patients would attain it to some degree. I think the majority of laryngectomees would be able to produce limited phrases of a couple of syllables. I can easily say: thank you, excuse me, sorry, and rest room. I am also practicing the phrases that might be needed in a 911 call: fire, police, and medical.

I sorry to have become a hot-air advocate for esophageal speech. If you don't expect too much and don't get frustrated, I don't see many downsides. Esophageal speech can be developed while still using a voice prosthesis and/or an electro larynx. You don't have to give anything up to start trying esophageal speech.

And a speech therapist will probably be needed to gain proficiency, the first steps can (and probably should) be taken by the individual. No need for a therapist if the patient can't make any sound at all.

Pam M said:

I think her name here was Silver Fox or Silver Foxette. She's on FB (Roxanne Jacobs). She's on my Friends list (I'm Pamela Suzette Mullins). I think she had a similar experience with her prosthesis, but I think her leaking was her stoma.

Trachea? Stoma?
I am not the final authority on terminology; but here goes: After a total laryngectomy, the airway is separated from the foodway. The foodway (esophagus) connects the mouth (and nose) to the stomach. The airway (trachea) connects the neck stoma to the lungs. So saying the voice prosthesis leaked into the stoma and leaked into the trachea or leaked into the lungs is saying about the same thing. I can tell the color of the fluids leaked into the trachea only when I cough them out my stoma. Didn't mean to get word picky. Rick.

CivilMatt said:

I hear you
Hi Rick,

If I had to bet a cup of coffee on it, I would lay odds on the pneumonia lighting up the scan. I hope your esophageal speech continues to improve as you wish. Now, my radiation voice doesn’t sound like anything to complain about.

Is that dog real? If it is, you should hade a big hug and some pets.

Best,

Matt

Peanut has passed over.
She was very real until about a year and half ago. I post her pic, and I use ToBeGolden as a nickname in many places on the web because I would like to imitate her personality.

Like all dogs, she would threaten what she was afraid of. So racoons, deer (the first time she saw one) and even the first time she saw a snowman. But she would never go after a cat or a snake. She would go up to snakes and smell them but never bite. So she might threaten a malmute but a small dog could case her all over the place.

Once a neighbor's girl (about 5 years old) blew into Peanut's ear. The dog just ran away and hid in the rather thick bushes.

I almost never had her on leash. Also remarkable she learned that I picked up her poop. She might wander through the woods for many tens of minutes, but she would ALWAYS come back to the path and poop almost in front of me.

Finally, she could dive completely under water and retrieve (usually broken tennis balls) from the bottom.

We got her at an age of two from a family who could not put up with her. Too much energy. The photo was taken when she was about four and I photoshoped the background and added a light via photoshop.

I had another Golden previous to Peanut, his name was Angus. And as usual, he was generally off leash. Once a person on the next block threw a good size rock, hitting the dog in the side of the head. After a dazed moment of two, the Golden picked up the rock and brought it back to the person. Dropped the rock at the person's feet, and just sat there. What a way to win an argument!

Wish I could learn to react to hostilities (real or perceived) in this way. Rick Peanut and Angus.