Laryngeal nerve with thyroid cancer

Hi @azitaanita1, thyroid cancer can invade the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and cause vocal cord paralysis. Has this happened to you? Can you share a bit more how your laryngeal nerve is involved? How are you doing?

Hi,
Thank you for responding back.
The tumor is around the laryngeal nerve.
Have you had anyone is this Group that had their laryngeal nerve cut?
Thank you

Hi,
Thank you for responding. The tumor is around laryngeal nerve , my Surgen is recommending to cut it before going anywhere else.
Do you know anyone in this group who has cut their laryngeal nerve. I want to get their personal experience?
Thank you

I did not have laryngeal nerve involvement but I question why the survey has to start with cutting a nerve. With all the Cyber- knife and micro type surgeries where they can use lasers and minimal cutting, why can’t they use something like that to remove the tumor from around the nerve rather than cutting it? Have you gotten a second opinion? I assume there are times where cutting a nerve happens but it seems odd to go into surgery with this as the plan. Maybe a second opinion would help to ensure that this is absolutely necessary. Have you checked into whether you are a candidate for Radiofrequency Ablation? They shrink the tumor and people don’t need to have thyroid removed. You have to go to a doctor that actually does the procedure to be evaluated but maybe it is an option to save having your laryngeal nerve cut. Good luck!

lilyanne here, all i know is that from the biopsy in november of 2022, the 4 needles, the next day i felt like someone was strangling me and my voice had changed and when i seen the endocrinologist. she sent me to the ENT who checked my vocal chords and my right side was paralyzed. i was talking find before the biopsy is my point. so then onto the surgeries and now i have no voice. take care everyone.

I never heard of a biopsy causing someone to lose their voice. Did the doctor explain how this happened? Is one vocal fold paralyzed? If so, they might be able to use Botox to plump up the other vocal fold so it meets the paralyses one and give you a voice again. It could also be something unrelated to the biopsy causing the voice issue…. Maybe it’s spastic dysphonia? You might want to ask to be referred to a Speech and Language Pathologist ( SLP) who specializes in voice disorders. An SLP might be able to work with you to help restore your voice. There are a lot of exercises that can help with voice issues. Good luck!

lilyann here, koh, they said my voice loss was permanent. thank you so much for all the information. take care

I am so sorry to hear that! I have great faith in SLP’s and the work they have done with voice clients and was hoping that the information might be helpful for your situation. I advocate for trying anything to see if it helps, which is why I responded. As an SLP, I will always advocate for being evaluated by an SLP who specializes in the area of need. Good luck!