Laryngeal cancer (recurrence)

Thanks phinken. I live about 5 hours from Rochester.

Hi @msherfinski, Just checking in. How are you doing today?

Thank you Coleen! I'm still pretty depressed, but I am making some progress with treatment. I have a consultation set up for Friday at Froedhert in Milwaukee. I also have been in contact with Mayo as to a second opinion if needed . They are in the process of getting my records sent to them. My Oncologist called me today and told me the ENT that scoped me is not a Cancer specialist. I think she was trying to give some ray of hope. She wants some further testing before my consultation, so who knows. I am trying to keep upbeat, but it so damn hard. My wife try's to cheer me up,(God Bless her) , but I just can't stop thinking about a life win a file in my throat, especially since one of my passions is swimming. In short, I'm very much bummed. Thanks for your concern!! msherfinski

Hello everyone. My surgery for biopsy is going to be next week. Said they would need to put a Trach in because the tumors are blocking my airways. He told me he thought they were cancerous. Don't really know what to do now. Said it would require a 4-5 day hospital stay. Can anyone help me, I'm scared as hell. If they are cancerous he said laryngectomy would be in order.

Can you or your wife call and talk with one of the doctors at mayo before your biopsy? You may not get different answers from a second opinion, but isn't it worth pursuing? Personally, I always feel that I cope better when I have gathered as much information as possible to make the best decisions. All the best to you.

Thanks for replying Deborahe. I will try to call Mayo Monday, but I don't think they would let me talk to a doctor. Froedhert going to be calling me to set up the biopsy. The Doctor there painted a pretty grim picture. He did point out it was my decision though. They're concerned is the tumor blocking my airway. He said he thought it was cancerous. I am emotionally drained. I just don't know how to go about this. I've been praying, that's for sure!!

Deb and I both had temporary trachs, key word being temporary. I am going to be brutally honest and I get you are scared as hell which should motivate you to get to Mayo! I live in Delafield as I shared with you, and when I was first diagnosed I went to Froedtert and saw Dr. Joel Blumin who told me most likely I would need a total Laryngectomy as well. Then I went to Dr. Bruce Campbell at Froedtert and heard more of the same. I then went to UW Madison where they thought they maybe able to save some of my functionality. Proceeded to go to Cleveland Clinic and saw the top two ENT surgeons there and they wanted to chisel away at the tumor to open my airway which was already only at a 10% opening. Ultimately in time they said I would need a Laryngectomy in time. From there we went to Mayo where I saw Dr. Moore who had a cutting edge procedure that he had performed once before. He felt he could remove 100% of the tumor and reconstruct my airway with my ear cartilage and keep all of my functionality; eating, breathing speaking. I had a temporary trach to breath during procedures and healing. After my first visit to Mayo I had already set up visits to Stanford and he had a way to get most of the tumor and keep my functionality. I also went to Mt. Sanai where there was also another radical procedure proposed, however reconstruction was a possibility. My point is that I was not going to accept that a Laryngectomy was the only option. If I would have listened to the first diagnosis I would have a permanent trach, feeding tube and mechanical device to speak. Your situation may be different but if I were you I would get in my car today and drive to Mayo and knock on Dr. Moore's office door! We made one phone call to get into Mayo and 3 days later I was in his office. If your airway is blocked so much that you can't breath you may very well need a temporary trach, however there are different ways for that procedure to occur as well and to protect my procedure it had to placed in a very special place. We live on a lake and as you already said you kike to swim and I am know teaching my grandkids to ski, swim, and fish. My surgery was in October and the attached photo I sent to Dr. Moore with a big thank you. You may not get the same result but if you do not get second opinions you will always be second guessing yourself. Turn your fear into action! GO GET A SECOND OPION. If I did not get a second opinion I would have had a Laryngectomy, but now I am still functional and thankful for everyday! Turn that fear into motivation and get going!

Thank you Jeff!! That's a very inspirational story and I am so glad of your success. I guess my only question for you is. were your tumors cancerous?? I'm thinking that maybe I should let them go ahead with the biopsy. I just don't know what I should do. The surgeon thought they looked like cancer.

Jeff, do you think I should go ahead with the biopsy??

I had Laryngeal Chondrosarcoma a very rare form of slow growing bone and cartilage cancer that grew inward and paralyzed one of my vocal chords and took out half of my voice box and closed 90% of my airway. All of that was reconstructed with the help of ear cartilage the was implanted in my forearm to grow and ultimately used to replace the cricoid cartilage in my esophagus. There were less than 200 cases like this ever reported, so I like you thought I had no hope. I attached photos of my procedure to show you the "art of the possible", not to scare you more. You can see how large of a tumor was removed from my throat. I really want to motivate you to go to Mayo. None of us can make any decisions for you. You have to take control!