I started having some difficulty with my high notes in October, 98. The F(above high C) was iffy and the stuff below that down to about a G lacked all subtlety. I still had the notes, but they were forte or nothing. I went to my ENT who looked in my throat and found that I had a polyp on my left cord. I had a trip to Austria scheduled in November and didn't want to still be recovering from surgery so I put it off until I got back. Then I had to postpone it until January for insurance reasons.
Anyway, when I went in for my pre-surgery visit the polyp was still there and other "stuff" had also grown on the same cord. I don't really know if the two are related or not, and, frankly, I don't want to know. The surgery went well. The polyp was benign, but the other stuff was not, so 10 days after surgery I began radiation. I finished radiation in March and had to stay on vocal rest to allow the larynx to recover from the radiation. In July my doctor cleared me to start singing again--five note range and for 5-10 minutes at a time.
As far as how it's affected my singing, that's kind of hard to say. My range is different (pre-cancer I could vocalize from about a below middle C up to G or A-flat above high C; now I consistently have a low F and some days an E-flat, I don't really know about the high stuff because I haven't really tried it. I know I have at least an E-flat, though)my voice is fuller but I think that's more a result of improved technique and maturity. (I just turned 28) Overall, I'm singing better than ever, but that's mostly due to a new teacher who has discovered and is removing tensions I didn't know I had.
Gee, this turned into quite a novel, but I don't mind. When I was first diagnosed I searched for another singer who had been through this and could reassure me about what was to come but I couldn't find anyone, so if this helps anyone else, I'm glad.
Denise Johnson dj1756@h...
>In a message dated 05/31/2000 9:29:50 AM Central Daylight Time, >dj1756@h... writes: > ><< I had to take some time off of singing due to larynx cancer, but after >2 >months of radiation, an additional 6 months of vocal rest and about 8 >months >to rebuild technique and confidence I'm back.>> > >OMG, Denise. What an ordeal. How has this experience affected your >singing? > How did you discover you were sick? I admire your bravery - I don't >want >to pry, but since all of us are dependent upon our laryngeal health, I >think >inquiring minds want to know ... > >Christine Thomas >Mezzo-Soprano >Wauwatosa, WI > >"Oh, I got plenty Akhnaten, Akhnaten's plenty for me" :) > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >Hot off the press- summer's here! >School's out and it's sizzling hot. Whether you're planning a >graduation party, a summer brunch, or simple birthday party, >shop GreatEntertaining.com before your next celebration. >http://click.egroups.com/1/4473/5/_/843894/_/959783694/ >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: >vocalist-temporary-unsubscribe@o... > > >
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