Hello.

I am just introducing myself as a new comer to this site. However I am an old person.

I was first diagnosed with tongue cancer 8 years ago. It came back early this year and I have been hacked around a bit since then.
I have now started voice therapy, I prefer to say I am in rehab, 'cos it sounds cool!

I am hope to post my story in the near future.

Thank you, Waspy xx

Hi Waspy, Glad to hear you like rehab if Amy Winehouse can go there so can you
I look forward to your story and how speech therapy goes for you.

Paul

Hello Waspy

Welcome. I am glad that you managed to get through the registration problem that you emailed me about earlier today. Do let us know if you think we could make the process easier.

Best wishes
Vinod

quote:

Originally posted by Paul:
Hi Waspy, Glad to hear you like rehab if Amy Winehouse can go there so can you
I look forward to your story and how speech therapy goes for you.

Paul

Hi Paul
Rehab is canceled this week so cannot swap any more cosmetic tips with Amy.

Therapy so far consists of not coughing (difficult) steaming (also good for the complexion) and breathing exercises.
Regards Waspy xx

Voice/Speech Therapy

To recap: voice therapy consisted of learning to breath correctly. A trained actor or singer would recognise this immediately. For me it was quite strange, breathing from the diaphragm instead of the chest! That was hard until it dawned on me that the method was similar to filling with air prior to swimming underwater. Once I started to get the hang of it, I made the required sounds 'Sh' and 'F', and found that I could produce the sound for much longer periods.

NOW ON TO SPEECH THERAPY

The therapist was very pleased with my progress and we started on the speech exercises. If I thought breathing was hard, well it had nothing on this. Still using my new found breathing skills, I have to make more sounds but with volume control as well. I feel very self conscious about making a noise so I play AC/DC (Tribute), Cream and this morning Joan Jett on Spotify. This is good for drowning me out but now I have a headache!

In the evening, I have a plastic tool (shaped like a coal shovel) to exercise and strengthen my tongue. At first this tool made me gag! Perseverance means that I can take it for longer periods. I am feeling the benefit already. Nothing is a quick cure but the slightest improvement is immediately noticed.

To bring some fun to the proceedings I have added amusement visiting an Elocution Enunciation website. At this address A - Z Enunciation Exercises - Tongue Twisters to Practice Enunication and Elocution


Try saying: Three thick thistle sticks. The result is hilarious!
A good friend suggested that I read aloud. So each morning I read The Charge of The Light Brigade aloud. Just the right length, at the moment my voice tires before halfway but I will get to the end! I wish that I could record it to hear any improvement.

I have to remember that too much exercise is as bad as none at all.

Hi Waspy

My favorite thing to say while I was getting used to my flap was "chitty chitty bang bang." I even suggested that to the speech therapist as a drill.

You should record yourself reading aloud. That's one of the assignments I was given; I even bought a tape recorder (yes, they are still made) just for that purpose. In five minute blocks, I read the same passage from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It's amazing how quickly the amount of text I recorded grew in that same five minutes.

Julia

Hi Maggie, great to hear from you.
I read you writing and cannot belive I was not given any speech therapy after my op and radiotherapy. \i had part of my toungue removed as it went bad but they said nothing they could do for me.
Hope you write how you got the C and how you cope it would be good for others to know.

Paul

Hi Waspy,

Good to hear from you and welcome. Sorry I missed your earlier posts. What treatment did you have 8 years ago?

That speech therapy must be hard work but sounds like you are having some fun as well, good for you.

All the best

Ken

Thank you all for your messages. Paul, I asked for voice/speech therapy and they were only too pleased to oblige. I have noticed others getting treatment or help that I was not offered, I think it probably depends on the consultant's methods.

Hi Kenny, I had thought to wait until I had the all clear to post my story on 'survivors thread' but why wait? I will write something and post it later.

When asked how I coped, I have to admit that insanity helped plus the kindness of people, friends and medics alike.

Hi Waspy, welcome to the forum. Sorry you have a need to be here. Hagg.

Julia! I am shocked, tried saying Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ..... it was rude! Are you trying to lead me astray? I have lead a very sheltered life you know!
Do you know any more?

quote:

Originally posted by Hagg.:
Hi Waspy, welcome to the forum. Sorry you have a need to be here. Hagg.

Thank you for your kind wishes. 12 years eh? Keep kicking! Waspy

Always kicking . Hagg.

15th October 2009 update.

I am really pleased that I have taken everybody's advice and persevered with voice exercises. Progress is very slow; on a day to day basis not obvious at all.

I took advice and have recorded myself reading aloud. On playback, it did not sound as bad as I thought. I will compare in a week's time.

I recorded using a webcam, in time I hope to upload the result onto U-tube .. now I have said it, I have got to do it haven't I. Will keep you posted!

Waspy xx

Hi

I cannot believe that it is a week since I wrote that! I have had another session with the speech therapist; she was both congratulatory and encouraging. I feel much more confident now but it has been so long, I don't know what to say to people now! What do those people with mobile phones find to say to each other that is obviously so important?

I have just recorded the Spike Milligan poem called Maveric. It felt so easy. Still does not sound like me and still spraying spinach! But I feel that it is coming.