Some people with cancers of the head and neck or cancer of the brain may need speech therapy to learn how to speak again after treatment. Speech therapists (also called speech-language pathologists) assess and treat speech problems. They work closely with surgeons and oncologists to make sure you get the help that you need.
Head and neck cancers and cancer of the brain can result in changes to your speech. Speech problems can happen as a result of a blockage by the cancer or as the result of treatment.
Treatments for these cancers, including surgery, radiation therapy or both, may change the structure or function of the body parts that produce speech. Both the voice itself (frequency, pitch and intensity) and the ability to speak can be affected by cancer and its treatments.
If your voice box (larynx) has been totally removed, you will have to learn new ways to speak using a different vibration source to replace the vibrations of the vocal cords.
If you’ve had radiation therapy to your voice box or a partial removal of your voice box, you can still speak using the vocal cords. There may be some changes to the quality of your voice, including hoarseness, a breathy voice and a weak voice.
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