In 2019, when I was 67 years old, I noticed a drainage in the back of my throat that would not stop. There were no other noticeable symptoms—not even a cough. Since I live on a farm in the country, it was not unusual for me to have active sinus drainage. In the late days of summer each year, there is a lot of pollen and dust in the air.
When the condition did not improve after a few months, I went to my family general practice doctor. He immediately presumed I had picked up an infection and recommended antibiotics. The antibiotics didn’t help, so he tried a different type. Same result.
By now this was mid-November and I referred myself to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist. The throat exam was quick, but I was new to this, so I didn’t know what to ask. My ENT figured I had acid reflux and prescribed me more medication. Still, I felt no better.
I made an appointment with a second ear, nose and throat doctor who quickly noticed a worrying spot on my vocal cord. After a biopsy the following week, I was told it was vocal cord cancer (stage 3). They warned me there would be surgery with radiation, and I would probably need a feeding tube.
I decided I wanted another opinion. So, I went to a larger city with ear, nose and throat specialists, who had more experience. After a PET scan, my latest ENT doctor noted I was only in stage 1. Since the cancer had not spread, I would not need surgery. I would just need radiation (35 treatments) and the doctor informed me that the cure rate for this condition was around 95–98%.
One year after the full treatment, I still go for check-ups on a 3-month basis. All could not be better. Yes, my voice did get scratchy for a time, but I did not have to get a feeding tube. There were moments of eating very soft foods, but I got through it.
Today, my voice is back and getting better each month. I believe in prayer—the Lord granted me the hope that all would be good from the very beginning. Everyone needs a support group and the simple comfort that they are not alone. So after the pandemic, I plan to volunteer my time with a cancer support group.
Will You Share Your Journey?
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. As part of that theme, we post stories written by oral cancer survivors, caregivers and medical professionals for our 30 Stories in 30 Days™ campaign. The insights they share can help others along their journey.
