In 2022, 57-year-old Jon was diagnosed with stage 4 laryngeal cancer (a type of throat cancer). He underwent a total laryngectomy, which is an operation to remove the voicebox, and had a speaking valve fitted. Following this life-changing surgery, he was referred to The Royal Marsden for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and post-surgery rehabilitation.
"Once I’d recovered from surgery, I started radiotherapy at The Royal Marsden. I still had over 100 titanium staples in my neck after surgery, but they couldn't wait any longer as they wanted to quickly target any remaining cancer. It felt like the inside of my neck was jelly and the staples were holding everything together. I had treatment for six weeks and the radiotherapy team were all so nice. They all had so much empathy, care and consideration – you’re not treated like just another patient on the conveyor belt.”
Learning to talk again
“I had a TEP (trachea oesophageal puncture) fitted after my surgery. This helps me talk by using a one-way valve to let air pushed up from the lungs to pass through the windpipe and enter the oesophagus, causing the walls of the oesophagus to vibrate as a new voice. This one-way valve will not let food or liquids pass through from the other way. It can be hard work at first getting the hang of it and even now speaking is not without thought. Every word takes a lot of effort to force up the air.”
“To help me with this, I was seen by the Speech and Language team at The Royal Marsden. They have been brilliant! At one stage, after finally learning how to speak post-surgery, I suddenly couldn’t speak again. I was so blistered from radiotherapy that the valve in my neck wouldn't work! But the team were still there for me and really put my mind at rest.”
Physiotherapy and pain management
“Surgery also left me in a bit of a mess regarding shoulder and neck pain. As well as my larynx, I had over 90% of my thyroid glands and 84 lymph nodes removed to get rid of the cancer. So, the surgeons had to borrow muscle from my shoulders and neck to help hold my head up, and lifted a lot of skin away to remove the lymph nodes. This is why I have also had sessions with The Royal Marsden's Physiotherapy team, they try to get my arms moving a bit more and ease my movement in general.”
Not only this, I experienced neuropathy (damage to the nerves) from my chemotherapy treatment, so I struggled with pain in my feet and legs. The amazing people in the Pain team helped with this issue, based in the new Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton, which is a fantastic place. I'm on a lot of opioid medicine still, which I'm trying to get off and the team are helping me to substitute this treatment."
Psychological support
“Some of the biggest battles with cancer are in your head. I contacted my clinical team to tell them I felt really low. They referred me to the Psychological support team and I completed a six-week mindfulness course. This support has calmed me down and helped me to find myself again. It’s amazing that this is something the hospital offer."
“My initial outlook when I got my diagnosis was to be full of anger. I felt like cancer was taking everything away from me including my work. However, now I feel like it's given me a lot as well. It’s given me a whole load of new friends and a different purpose in life. I’ve found poetry and painting and mindfulness. It's given me strength that I never knew I had.”
“Mental health is one of the most important parts of the cancer journey. When you first get a cancer diagnosis, you don’t really understand it. But once you’re going through the treatment process and once your treatment is over, this is when you really need the mental health support.”
“You can’t expect patients to go through surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and then just send them back into the world. Intimacy has changed, home life has changed, everything is so different. Psychological support is so vital.”
Taking part in the Banham Marsden March
“I took part in The Banham Marsden March in 2023 in a team of six and we raised around £1,600, it was an amazing day. I was still having treatment and going straight from radiotherapy into walking 5-miles was quite tough! I had to check with my clinical team that I was okay to participate."
“Anyone can do a charity walk, but this feels like so much more than that. It feels like one big family, I’m so proud of myself for taking part. I keep my medal close to me and have photos from the event on the wall at home.”
“I’ve recently found out more about what The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity funds and I’ve been touched by a lot of these different areas in the hospital, equipment and teams. I want to help others and try and give back what The Royal Marsden has given me. The Royal Marsden teams are helping to save my life.”
Help us support more people like Jon
The Royal Marsden changes the lives of countless people like Jon every year. Thanks to your support, we can transform treatment and care for people with cancer now, and long into the future.
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