Abstract
The author, a practicing physician, was diagnosed with throat cancer and lost his vocal cords. He endured the side effects of radiation, repeated surgeries, and the effects of prolonged hospitalizations; confronted medical mistakes and discrimination after losing his vocal cords; and struggled to regain his speech and find new meaning and purpose for his life. Facing the hardship and trials of becoming a laryngectomee illustrated to him how dependent and helpless a patient can become. Being unable to speak, eat, and breathe normally, while dealing with a potentially terminal illness, makes the patient very vulnerable, both physically and emotionally. A skillful, competent, error-free, empathetic, and caring approach that recognizes what the patient is experiencing can expedite recovery and well-being and help the patient return to a productive and meaningful life.
Highlights
The author, a practicing physician, was diagnosed with throat cancer and lost his vocal cords
In addition to experiencing the untoward effects of radiation treatments, surgery, and prolonged hospitalizations, I suffered from diagnostic and therapeutic errors related to my Abbreviations: SLP, speech and language pathologist
I was left with a lingering fear that the cancer would return or metastasize
Summary
I refused to believe my diagnosis until I had seen the pathological specimens with my own eyes.[1] I had to accept facts that I had previously avoided—I was vulnerable and my life might be shortened due to this illness. As I grew older I began to accept the inevitable reality that illness might lead to my demise; such thoughts were for a far distant future. I was left with a lingering fear that the cancer would return or metastasize. As time passed I began to believe I might be cancerfree. I was surprised to find that as I began sharing my diagnosis with others, the feelings of isolation and embarrassment passed and I greatly benefited from their much-needed support and sympathy
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