Vince's story, so far

Vince is a 70-year-old widower who lives alone in the foothills of Perth in Western Australia. Sadly, Vince lost his wife in early 2025 after a tough battle with cancer, and his son passed away in 2023 at the age of 34. In October 2025, Vince had a total laryngectomy shortly after being diagnosed with Laryngeal Cancer. Vince says, 'My journey is far from over. I use the analogy of a student waking up in the morning after their last day in school.'

This is Vince's story, in his own words.

I have always been a very outgoing person. I have participated in various sports at various levels, and I love to hunt and fish. My wife and I both contributed well during our working lives. I first started to experience issues relating to my throat and speech not long prior to my wife’s passing. Symptoms were mainly related to diminished digestive capabilities and a hoarse voice. I would often show signs of choking when devouring my favourite proteins which, I spent so much time and attention preparing. I guess it’s fair to say I was the cook in our relationship.

I saw my GP on a reasonably regular basis, bearing in mind of course that I am a man going through a pretty tough time. The focus of our 10-minute sessions was generally on my general wellbeing and a review of my script expiry dates. The result, without going into detail, was that I went undiagnosed until I was quite ill and he finally referred me to an ENT specialist.  It took about 10 minutes and a quick scope down my throat to see that I had a very large tumour in my throat which was impacting quite seriously on my ability to eat and breath. The diagnosis was laryngeal cancer.

It was only a matter of a week or so before I was admitted to Hospital for an urgent tracheotomy. That marked the start of a very scary journey for me.

The ENT staff were very good and a very large team of specialists reviewed my case and explained to me that I would need to have a total laryngectomy and reconstruction operation if I were going to have any chance of surviving moving forward. At the time, I felt under significant pressure to make a quick decision, which was overwhelming. Because of the losses I have suffered prior to my diagnosis, my instincts kicked in and I went into a period of thought where I asked myself what the purpose was of going down this path given the fact that there was a fair degree of risk that I would not make it through. I was subsequently visited by the palliative care team to work out a plan moving forward. That scared me even more.

I decided I would go through with the laryngectomy and reconstruction. That happened in October 2025. That operation involved the removal of the large tumour in my larynx.

I woke up in hospital after a very long operation to a completely different set of challenges. I no longer had a tracheotomy; I had a laryngectomy. I was and, still am, totally non-verbal. I was visited daily by various specialist teams which included plastics surgery, ENT, speech, dietetics and physiotherapy.

Not being able to talk was perhaps the hardest thing and most agitating aspect of my recovery. I became very agitated and frustrated. I think that had a somewhat negative impact on the healing process. It’s easy to say “stay calm and relax” but it’s a time of much uncertainty and dare I say, mistrust on occasions.

I returned home to nurse my wounds. My next task was to undertake a 30-day period of radiation therapy around my neck, head and shoulders. That happened over the Christmas and new year period and continued while I celebrated the first anniversary of the passing of my late wife. I completed that process at the end of January 2026.

Since that time, I have been nursing the side effects of the radiation therapy which mainly involved quite severe external and internal radiation burn damage. It also resulted in my “manufactured throat” or “my swallowing tube” retracting and restricting my diet to fluid only. Experts tell me that time will allow things to get back to a situation of being able to tolerate a more wholesome diet.

I yearn for that day and find it hard to watch my favourite cooking channel. I have lower thigh function issues and left shoulder issues, both because of the surgery. I will be commencing a period of physiotherapy to try to compensate for the damage to those areas. I have also met with Lymphedema specialists to sort out a rehabilitation program moving forward. Some lymph nodes get removed during the operation.

Information Sources

When I was in hospital following my tracheotomy, I was provided with some detailed information created by the WA Health Department outlining the processes and possible outcomes of undergoing a total laryngectomy and reconstruction. All-in-all, the amount of information made available was of high quality. My main problem was getting my head around it all.

After much searching, I came across Head and Neck Cancer Australia, and I now subscribe to it and I am happy to contribute as best I can.

Side effects of Treatment

Nothing really surprised me about the physical side effects of treatment. I was prepared for them. I generally have a high degree of tolerance for pain.

Treatment takes a lot out of me. I am lethargic and have difficulty coping with everyday things like cleaning up after myself and even sticking to a personal health regime.

The most striking problem for me is that of social isolation. Being non-verbal, as I have found, can be very limiting and challenging to other people. Neighbours with whom I engaged with on my daily dog walks etc. find it hard to have a conversation because it involves me sitting down and writing on bits of paper or a tablet. In addition to that, I feel very self-conscious about being unable to speak and then avoid people. I guess time will determine how I, and other people, adapt.

I guess my perspective on life has not really changed since the operation. In no way am I spiritual. But I do feel there is purpose for me. Anyone going through this without belief in themselves, is frankly, in for a hard slog.

My journey is far from over. I use the analogy of a student waking up in the morning after their last day in school.

I am of the belief that, if I had decided not to go down the full laryngectomy and reconstruction path, I could well have passed by now or at the very best, be in fulltime palliative care with no prospect of recovery. The technology available today and the quality of surgical and specialist staff, provide a better than 50-50 chance at favourable outcomes.

My story is ongoing. Each day is a new day for me. My aim is to get to where I jump out of bed in the morning rather than to close the curtains and hope the sun goes down again soon.