Nov. 22, 1996 I was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. Some people refer to this as Throat Cancer. While this is true, it is not accurate. Throat cancer can include other diseases such as Esophageal cancer, Thyroid cancer and Cancers of other structures in the head and neck. Laryngeal cancer is cancer of the voice box. Many times the symptoms are masked and treated as other maladies, allergies, colds etc....

I started smoking at the age of 9. This was just prior to the releases from the US Surgeon regarding the relationship between Cancer and Smoking. As with any young person, I wanted to fit in....and all the guys I ran with were smokers, so why not me?

On that fateful day in 1996, I had been coughing blood. It scared me enough to call my Doctor and he quickly referred me to an Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon, or Otolaryngologist. I was seen that day, and with the history I had presented, a Laryngoscope was performed, and the surgeon said that he had seen this too many times.... He was 90% sure that it was Cancer. My world stopped, and the sinking feeling I felt was overwhelming....I was in shock. He also found a suspicious Lymph Node in the left side of my neck, and requested a Needle Aspiration Biopsy. The Biopsy result was negative. Subsequent procedures were scheduled. CT or CAT Scan, was ordered for the next day, and Endoscopy w/Biopsy of the tumor was scheduled for the following Monday, (the week of Thanksgiving).

The CAT Scan and Biopsy revealed Squamous Cell Carcinoma and it was believed that it had already infiltrated the Cricothyroid (Adam's Apple cartilage) and the Vocal Chords. To say the least, my heart sank. I was a salesman, Telemarketer in fact, and had made my living all my life by using my voice. Before this I had also worked in Commercial Radio, as well as Public Safety Telecommunications.

Surgery was scheduled and I entered the hospital on December 4, 1996, for surgery. I awoke around Midnight that night without a voice. To be honest I had expected to die on the table, after all, Cancer was a Killer, right? It was not to be however....and I am still here... So far no recurrence. I am now six years cancer free, after 28 days of subsequent radiation therapy.

Cancer is a devastating disease. It robs you of precious time and energy. It changes not only your life, but also the lives of those around you. People don't know how to react to you, you have been altered. If you don't have a sense of humor, better get one...you’ll need it! Sometimes it makes people uncomfortable when I make light of my condition...but as you will see from the following pictures, its either that or loose whatever sanity you may have left. These Post-operative photos are VERY GRAPHIC.... View with discretion….

You have been warned...