I would like to chat with other Laryngectomy's ....... * not many of us out there *

laryngectomees
Hi Roxanne, I did not have a laryngectomy but came close, in April of 2009 I was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer, stage 3, the doctors suggested 35 rad sessions and 3 cisplatin chemo rounds, so far it has worked. There are a couple of places you can go to. I hooked up and kept a blog on Laryngectomy Life, great people from all over the world there most lary's and some carers. There is also web whispers, lots of info and cross chat, it's not so intimate as LL but is good, I am sure there is a lary group close to where you live. Hook up with the two groups and they will get you to the right places. Denis

Roxanne, you should come
Roxanne, you should come here any time you feel alone. I felt the same way because the people who love us are concerned and worry about us but they can't imagine how we feel actually going thru cancer and its battle. I also felt completely alone until I found this site thru a friend who went thru breat cancer. I had cancer on my voice box. Went thru 7 weeks of radiation, the last one being 10/22/09. I still have some problems with swallowing and my throat is still very swelled but overall, I'm doing ok. Most foods do not taste right so I don't have a big variety of foods to eat b/c of the taste buds being messed up. The worst part was quitting smoking. I still miss it. I have smoked for 40 years so that was a big part of my everyday life. I pray that God will help me fight the urge to smoke everyday.
You will find there are many, many good people on here who are very willing to be your friend. They also have a lot of great info. So, come here often and you will find that your aren't as alone as you may thing. Hang in there and stay positive.
You will be in my prayers.
God Bless,
Debbie

new voice club
There is a group called the new voice club for laryngectomees. They have groups around the country so depending on where you live you might actually be near a chapter where you can actually meet some in real life. Some might even go to different SPOHNC chapter support groups yet another possible way to meet others that are going through what you are experiencing.

unknown said:

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Graci, I'm so sorry to hear
Graci, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I'm equally as sorry to hear that you now have cancer. You're right, it is a hard battel to fight, but one you can win. You are definitely in my prayers. Please keep us posted as to how you are doing.
God Bless and take care,
Debbie

debbiejeanne said:

Roxanne, you should come
Roxanne, you should come here any time you feel alone. I felt the same way because the people who love us are concerned and worry about us but they can't imagine how we feel actually going thru cancer and its battle. I also felt completely alone until I found this site thru a friend who went thru breat cancer. I had cancer on my voice box. Went thru 7 weeks of radiation, the last one being 10/22/09. I still have some problems with swallowing and my throat is still very swelled but overall, I'm doing ok. Most foods do not taste right so I don't have a big variety of foods to eat b/c of the taste buds being messed up. The worst part was quitting smoking. I still miss it. I have smoked for 40 years so that was a big part of my everyday life. I pray that God will help me fight the urge to smoke everyday.
You will find there are many, many good people on here who are very willing to be your friend. They also have a lot of great info. So, come here often and you will find that your aren't as alone as you may thing. Hang in there and stay positive.
You will be in my prayers.
God Bless,
Debbie

Laryngeal (Voice Box) Cancer
Greetings Debbiejean,

I read your reply to "Roxanne, you should come." By the Powers that Be, I felt as if I had written your note. I finished my radiation treatment last week. Food tastes terrible, I feel as though I have a large wad of cotton stuck deep in my throat. Often I feel saliva going the wrong way and have no choice but to break into a really breath-taking coughing spell and blah, blah, blah. I have a multitude of emotions and feelings. I served with the Army Rangers and Special Forces; and I took my diagnosis (Type 2) as a personal insult. I'm over that now. I realize I'm no longer young and indestructible. Remember the superballs that you could drop from waist height and they would bounce really high? That's what I feel like most of the time. Sometimes I'm up and other times down; I get really angry and resentful inside. My wife, TexasCat, found this site for me. She has been a real pillar of support. I, also need to quit smoking. What bothers me is the exercises the folks in Speech Therapy want me to do. Thank you for allowing me (like you had a choice) to regurgitate these words all over you. Sorry for my ranting. Isanyati Dakota indicates the Sioux tribe I'm from (Randy or Wolf as a user-name was already taken).

Isanyati Dakota said:

Laryngeal (Voice Box) Cancer
Greetings Debbiejean,

I read your reply to "Roxanne, you should come." By the Powers that Be, I felt as if I had written your note. I finished my radiation treatment last week. Food tastes terrible, I feel as though I have a large wad of cotton stuck deep in my throat. Often I feel saliva going the wrong way and have no choice but to break into a really breath-taking coughing spell and blah, blah, blah. I have a multitude of emotions and feelings. I served with the Army Rangers and Special Forces; and I took my diagnosis (Type 2) as a personal insult. I'm over that now. I realize I'm no longer young and indestructible. Remember the superballs that you could drop from waist height and they would bounce really high? That's what I feel like most of the time. Sometimes I'm up and other times down; I get really angry and resentful inside. My wife, TexasCat, found this site for me. She has been a real pillar of support. I, also need to quit smoking. What bothers me is the exercises the folks in Speech Therapy want me to do. Thank you for allowing me (like you had a choice) to regurgitate these words all over you. Sorry for my ranting. Isanyati Dakota indicates the Sioux tribe I'm from (Randy or Wolf as a user-name was already taken).

Isanyati Dakota, I am sorry
Isanyati Dakota, I am sorry you are going thru this but I'm glad you are here and reading/posting. Congratualtions on finishing the trmnts, now comes the recovery. I hate to break it to you but I'm 8 months post trmnts and i still get the dry mouth/throat and feel like I have a cotton ball in my mouth. It isn't all day or everyday like it used to be but when it goes dry, it is just as dry as it was right after trmnts. About the ball, I'm still that emotional today, yuck!! I have to admit tho that is is NOT all from the cancer. One MINUTE I'm laughing but the very NEXT, I'm BALLING like a baby. As you said about your wife, I could not have faught the battle w/o the support and help of my other half. He was absolutely wonderful and always right by my side. He was AWESOME! He even cried w/me a couple times. I can't say even one bad word against the way he took care of me, but with that said, even he couldn't understand the full effect of what cancer and treatments and now recovery is doing to me. Not because he chooses not too but b/c he hasn't been there, thank God! I never had to go thru speech therapy, it was never even suggested. What type of exercises do you have to do? You never have to apologize for ranting, we've all done it!! Just one more good thing about this site and the people here, we all allow ranting...lol. I love your name and what it stands for!! That is really cool ! I wish you the very best with the cigarettes, I know it was really hard for me. I was hypnotized which worked and I had quit with no problem for 7 months, then I lost a nephew who was like my own son and I started smoking again. I have since quit again, finally. I haven't smoked now since 6/3/10. I know that isn't a long time but it's the best I've been able to do since I started again. It is hard but truly, if I can quit, I know ANYONE can.
I wish you the very best and hope your recovery goes smoothly. I also hope to see more posts from you. Thank you for your reply.
God bless you friend,
debbie

Hi my name is Dawn. My
Hi my name is Dawn. My mother had a total laryngectomy this past December and she has been searching for someone else who had a laryngectomy to talk to about it. It sounds like she is going through the same feelings you are. If youre interested please email me at lilypeep@yahoo.com or you can also search for me on facebook with this email.
Thank you Roxanne!

lilypeep said:

Hi my name is Dawn. My
Hi my name is Dawn. My mother had a total laryngectomy this past December and she has been searching for someone else who had a laryngectomy to talk to about it. It sounds like she is going through the same feelings you are. If youre interested please email me at lilypeep@yahoo.com or you can also search for me on facebook with this email.
Thank you Roxanne!

Hi Dawn
I sent you a private message (CSN Email), giving you Roxanne's email address. You can also feel free to friend her on Facebook (Roxanne Jacobs in Ft. Wayne, IN - her current FB pic is of two ladies in blue jean capris poolside).