I need urgent help in reducing the side effects of Voice hoarseness after 6 weeks ofradiotherapy + chemotherapy. I am now 3 weeks after finishing RT (also I am not able eat except solid foods and have very sore throat).
Please can Dr Vinod K Joshi or anybody help in advicing how voice can be restored or reducing the level of hoarseness, i Have problem that my work depends on Voice (telemarketing) and I am about to lose it if I did not restore at least some acceptable level of normal voice. Please Also I need to know what is the average that voice will become normal again

Sara, Slow down as six weeks of treatment will do some damage to your body. You've just been through alot of crap and now you want to be restored "right now". I'm afraid you'll need to accept that you've been through a tough ordeal. Give yourself some time to heal up. Having unrealistic expectation will only make you anxious.

My treatments ended Jun 06 but my voice was not impacted as much as my touch and ability to articulate was... so I slurred alot. I was able to speak "normally " by Nov 06. (That's what I mean by time).

Wishing you the best as you navigate through this period... perhaps you can work in another capacity of marketing during your healing period that the internet will allow ... working or compiling lists for others to work, creating an eblast campaign for your products, direct mailing.... not sure of your situation but perhaps these other media are available at your workplace... just a thought...

best wishes (also from Fla)

bob (pembo)

Thank you bob for your suggestions, But what I need actually a medical advice about a medicine or herbs , food , advice on how voice can get better or what can be done to reduce horseness. I heard that inahling steam for instance can help , but it did not make it any better.
Also Is the phelgem (mucus) have something to do with voice.
Also I need from Dr. Joshi advice if Anti-Inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac can be taken in case of chemo+RT , and in general if Anti-Inflammatory will reduce the success of treatment?

Hi sara
You need to speak to a speech therapist.
I had a hoarse voice which my consultant wasn't happy with. I saw an ENT consultant and had a camera down my throat and they saw that my vocal chords were unbalanced. I then saw a speech therapist who gave me several different exercises to even out the chords. Didn't take long to sort it out. However, my problem didn't occur til 3 months after R/T and chemo.
I think you are trying too much. The mucus will stay with you for quite a while and of course you will find it difficult to speak and straining to speak will put you vocal chords under stress.
Chill!
Keep smiling
Anne

hi sara
i had to see a speech therapist even now 15 months after rt finished i still have problems in the morning trying to talk.how is the hoarseness now?i found sipping water helped with that problem.good luck shirl xxx

Hi Sara,

I am 6 weeks post treatment and my voice is nearly back to normal (though everyone is different). I am in the same boat as ou and am a cutomer service supervisor so rely on my voice to seak to staff and customers. But I don't intend on going back to work until I am fully recovered and have been signed off untill the end or august - but will take more time off if needs be (my work are being very supportive).

I found that as the mucosis cleared up my voice got better - and clearing the stuff off the back of my throat made my voice clearer

Good luck Sara and take your time to recover.

Love Chloex

I am really very grateful to all of you : Chloex, shirl, and Anne for your kindness and support. I have actually visited my ENT, and he said that my vocal cords have some swelling only and needs sometime, he said : rest your voice. I hope that the suffering of all RT patients will come to an end by a new advanced treatment in the near future.