Life Changing Finding a New Voice
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Dec 25, 2024 Tanja Bage, a Leeds mother and former performer, shares her inspiring journey after a laryngectomy due to cancer. She explains the emotional turmoil of losing her voice just before the COVID lockdown. Tanja discusses adapting her speech with a stoma and the resilience required to connect with her children. She highlights her involvement with the Laryngectomy choir and the therapeutic benefits of music, emphasizing how creativity helped her reclaim her voice and identity amidst adversity.
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Breathlessness Journey
- Tanya Borger noticed breathlessness, initially attributed to pregnancy.
- After childbirth, it worsened, leading to frequent GP visits and an eventual diagnosis of an upper airway obstruction.
Misdiagnosis and Referral
- A doctor suggested Tanya's breathlessness might be psychological, which was incorrect and upsetting.
- After an ENT examination revealed a severely narrowed airway, she was urgently referred for a CT scan.
Cancer Diagnosis
- A biopsy revealed adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare cancer in Tanya's throat.
- The only treatment option was a total laryngectomy, removing her voice box, which was devastating news.