Doctors brushed off my symptoms as laryngitis but it was stage 4 cancer – the only way to survive was to remove my voice
A MAN whose cancer symptoms were dismissed as laryngitis was told he had six months to live – unless he underwent surgery that robbed him of the ability to speak.
Warwick Smith, 67, knew something was seriously wrong when he found himself struggling to speak during his job as a count clerk.
The granddad-of-six grappled with the strange symptom for months but kept being told by doctors that it was laryngitis and he had nothing to worry about.
But Warwick – who’d lost his brother to throat cancer years earlier – couldn’t quieten his worries, visiting his GP time and time again as his symptoms worsened and it became harder for colleagues at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre to understand him.
Desperate for answers, his third visit to his GP saw him break down in tears after he was again fobbed off.
Almost a year after he first complained of symptoms, after seeing a specialist at a local hospital, Warwick was given the devastating diagnosis of stage 4 laryngeal cancer – a type of throat cancer.
The granddad was told he might not have more than six months to live unless he underwent radical surgery to remove his voice box.
Warwick had the surgery in December 2022, but was left feeling angry that it had come to that.
He told Manchester Evening News: “I knew something was wrong, it wasn’t right, it wasn’t normal.
“The doctor said it sounds like laryngitis and not to worry about it. I said, ‘I’m feeling really worried, it’s been a few months and this can’t be right’.
“My brother died from throat cancer two years beforehand. I was worried at the back of my mind because of family history.
“They told me to wait and it got worse and worse.”
Warwick only managed to be seen by a specialist at a local hospital after a cancellation opened up an appointment.
Medics performed a nasal endoscopy, where a camera was inserted into his nose, as well as a biopsy.
With the biopsy results came the devastating news that Warwick had stage 4 laryngeal cancer.
Warwick recalled: “The first thing I thought of was my brother.
“You become Dr Google yourself. Everything on there said it wasn’t normal.
“My feelings were anger more than anything. You just feel so, so angry.
“I asked what the outlook was. They said if you leave it, you have six months max or you can opt for a total laryngectomy. It will remove the lymph nodes, but you won’t be able to talk.”
A laryngectomy is a surgical procedure to remove part or all of the larynx, the area of the throat that contains your vocal cords.
It’s used as a treatment for laryngeal cancer, but the operation is rare – people are usually offered radiotherapy or chemotherapy instead.
Doctors may propose a total laryngectomy if they think radiotherapy may not cure the cancer completely.
When the surgeon removes the whole larynx, there is no longer a connection between the mouth, nose and lungs, leaving people breathing and speaking in a different way.
Symptoms of laryngeal cancer
Key symptoms of laryngeal cancer to look out for include:
- A change in your voice, such as sounding hoarse
- Pain when swallowing or difficulty swallowing
- A lump or swelling in your neck
- A long-lasting cough or breathlessness
- A persistent sore throat or earache
- A high-pitched wheezing noise when you breathe
- In severe cases, difficulty breathing
You should see your doctor if you:
- Have a hoarse voice for more than three weeks
- Have lost 4 to 5kg (10lbs) or more in a short time and you are not dieting
- Are short of breath or have a cough that doesn’t go away, or your breathing becomes noisy (stridor)
- Have pain or difficulty swallowing
- Have any other symptoms that are unusual for you or that don’t go away
Source: NHS
Patients will be able to breathe through a hole in their neck, called a tracheostomy or stoma.
Left with little choice, Warwick underwent the life-changing procedure in December 2022, followed by a few days in intensive care.
Left with no vocal cords, he had to get used to speaking with his throat stoma by pressing on the hole in his neck.
The stoma then allows air to go from the lungs to the throat, making a sound Warwick can shape into words.
Following the procedure, Warwick also underwent six weeks of radiotherapy to zap the cancer in his neck, as well as weekly chemotherapy.
During this time, the granddad suffered complications when his kidney function dropped to just 20 per cent and his chemotherapy had to be adjusted.
‘Desperate to speak’
Warwick shared that he’s found his recovery “frustrating”.
“I used to rabbit on a bit, so living in a world of silence is so frustrating,” he told Manchester Evening News.
“A lot of people think you’re deaf as well or just ignore you. You have to write things down.
“I used to type things out on my phone. You’re just so desperate to speak.”
But Warwick has also been able to savour small victories, ordering a pint of beer in his local pub for the first time since his surgery.
Following the procedure, doctors told the granddad he now has a 40 per cent chance of surviving for five more years.
He’s now waiting for scan results which will hopefully show that his cancer is in remission.
Warwick is also fundraising for The Oldham Quiet Ones, a Greater Manchester laryngectomy support group where he serves a treasurer.
He hopes the cash will help cover the cost of medical equipment for members.
You can find out more about his fundraiser here.