Hi all, just before my 4th chemo I had a bit of a cough. Oncologist and nurses were not worried about it and put me on antibiotics just in case. A week after chemo, my voice disappeared. It has been about 3 weeks now and my voice still hasn't fully come back. One day it is not too bad and the next day it is hoarse again. Spoke to the oncologist again last Tuesday and he is still not worried about it, but I am starting to get anxious. I am on Abraxane and I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this sort of thing. I have tried just about everything from the chemist that I can try, I can't gargle because that makes me thow up and then the voice is worse. I feel fine, my bloods are good, marker is coming down, throat is not sore or swollen. Would love to hear from anyone that this may have happened too. Thanks everyone. Tracey

Thanks Sarah, I just get so frustrated. Prior to the chemo, (even with advanced cancer), I have always managed to knock over a cold, cough or flu in no more than 3 days. It's also hard when you work at a kinder with 3 and 4 year olds, (I suppose I have to consider what might also still be hanging around/overlapping there too) and all they just want to keep talking to you and have you talk back to them. I have to admit, for the first couple of weeks, they all spent a lot of time tearing around the playground looking for Tracey's voice. Now I have to come up with another game. Thanks again. Tracey

Twist one of your buttons and say your volume has been turned down! Do you think maybe your throat hasn't repaired itself yet from the chemo?I mean it affects mucous lined cells or fast growing cells .Some viruses affect the larynx and it can take weeks to get your voice back.Hang in there. Tonya xx

Thanks Tonya, I know I should be patient, but I am terrible at it. It is very slightly louder than what it was a few weeks ago. Last Thursday night it was on its way back to normal, but on Friday I could barely even squeak for the whole day. I just didn't think it would take this long. There is always something else that comes up when you least expect it. I was just reading some of your latest blogs and having a chuckle to myself because I know where you are coming from. One of the plastic surgeons that I saw initially, told me I was being vain for wanting to have my breast reconstructed. I really don't think he wanted to operate on me because of me being diagnosed as advanced and I think he thought I might fall off the perch before the time came to operate. I felt so horrible after he said that as I had never considered myself vain before that. (Some surgeons who do breast enlargements make their patients see psycologists before the op.) With breast cancer it is just into surgery and learning to accept the outcome. I found a different surgeon after that, one that listened. It must be the month for the "me" feeling. I was thinking about it the other day. I've lost a breast, feel like I've lost my mind sometimes, and feel like I have lost the real me, my emotions, my enthusiasm, so many things that this disease takes from you. Anyway we must battle on. So it sounds like dark curls are the by product of all this. I ran into an aquaintance the other day and she finished her chemo before xmas and she also had black curls. Prior to her diagnosis she had dark blonde hair that was straight and fine (similar to mine). Not sure how I am going to feel about that, but at least it will be hair I guess. Take care Tonya. I hope all goes well for you and thank you for the advice. Once again, I just didn't want to feel like I was alone. All the best. Tracey xx

Where's my voice gone? | BCNA Online Network

21 Replies

MsScorpio
Member
15 years ago
Thanks for that Tracey, I will speak with them. Hope all is going well for you.

Eve xo
MsScorpio
Member
15 years ago
Hi there, i am having FEC for my breast cancer and have had 2 treatments so far. I had a cold initially when I had my first treatment, and still had it when I had my 2nd treatment 2 weeks later. The oncologist has allowed me to have the next 2 - 3 weekly so have my next one 29 September 2011. But I still have this cough and now I am losing my voice. I am not sure if it is from the coughing or the chemo, has anyone else had this problem and if so how long does it last.

Eve
MsScorpio
Member
15 years ago
Hi there, i am having FEC for my breast cancer and have had 2 treatments so far. I had a cold initially when I had my first treatment, and still had it when I had my 2nd treatment 2 weeks later. The oncologist has allowed me to have the next 2 - 3 weekly so have my next one 29 September 2011. But I still have this cough and now I am losing my voice. I am not sure if it is from the coughing or the chemo, has anyone else had this problem and if so how long does it last.

Eve
MsScorpio
Member
15 years ago
Hi there, i am having FEC for my breast cancer and have had 2 treatments so far. I had a cold initially when I had my first treatment, and still had it when I had my 2nd treatment 2 weeks later. The oncologist has allowed me to have the next 2 - 3 weekly so have my next one 29 September 2011. But I still have this cough and now I am losing my voice. I am not sure if it is from the coughing or the chemo, has anyone else had this problem and if so how long does it last.

Eve
Amy
Member
15 years ago
Hi Tracey

Thanks for the heads up on the Medicare dental program. Will definitely look it up. Every little bit helps!

Amy x
traxx65
Member
15 years ago
Hi Amy,

I have been told before about the pain. I will be having Bondronat which I presume is the same sort of thing. I also have been to the Dentist. Not sure if you know but Medicare has a little known secret about dental. They have a program which I think is called Chronic Illness Dental, you can look it up on their site. Basically if you have cancer or any chronic illness and are having ongoing types of treatment, you can get your GP to fill out the forms and you can get about $4000 worth of dental treatment over 2 years. You still have to pay your bill up front, but then you just go to Medicare and claim it. Depending on how much your dentist charges you still may be out of pocket a little bit but every bit helps.

Hope all is good for you.

Take care.

Traceyxx
traxx65
Member
15 years ago
Hi Amy,

I have been told before about the pain. I will be having Bondronat which I presume is the same sort of thing. I also have been to the Dentist. Not sure if you know but Medicare has a little known secret about dental. They have a program which I think is called Chronic Illness Dental, you can look it up on their site. Basically if you have cancer or any chronic illness and are having ongoing types of treatment, you can get your GP to fill out the forms and you can get about $4000 worth of dental treatment over 2 years. You still have to pay your bill up front, but then you just go to Medicare and claim it. Depending on how much your dentist charges you still may be out of pocket a little bit but every bit helps.

Hope all is good for you.

Take care.

Traceyxx
Amy
Member
15 years ago
Hi Tracey

I am on a bisphosphonate called zometa which I have by IV monthly. I've had 6 so far. After the first one I got really terrible pains in all my bones. It was awful.

The Dr had warned me this might happen so I took some panadol which helped ease the pain a bit. It was only the first night and after that it was fine.

I haven't had anything like that for the subsequent 5.

I was also told to visit the dentist before starting the zometa because of the risk of osteocronosis of the jaw. (Basically, if you need any major dental work you should get it done before commencing with the bisphosphonate)

Hope it all goes OK for you.

Amy
Sarah_51
Member
15 years ago
Hi Tonya

Have followed some of your blogs about your hair and lack of growth and headbands etc . Please put a new profile picture up of your new hair sounds so fab. How long after chemo did you wait for the colour? I would love to get rid of some of my salt and pepper but am just really happy that I have some hair now!

Good luck with your new look it woud certainly have given you a big boost.

Love Sarah
traxx65
Member
15 years ago
Hi Tonya,

Yes I am still working. I would go insane if I stayed home. I am my own worst enemy. So nice for someone to call me young. I feel like I don't even know what at the moment. I am 45 years old and will be 46 in July. I was diagnosed a couple of months after my 40th.

You take care Tonya and congratulations on the hair cut and colour. It must make you feel so good about yourself after all the uncertainty you feel during and after chemo. Well done!

Take care and stay in touch

Tracey