Since 2017, Len’s voice started growing progressively hoarse. He didn’t think much of it at first. He did decide to schedule an ENT appointment and had his throat “scoped”, with the results indicating it was a bit irritated but nothing to worry about. Six months later, he had the same test done with a similar result.
As time went on, his voice became progressively hoarser and softer. People would mention they couldn’t hear Len. Still, the result from the ENT was the same. Some irritation, but nothing to worry about.
Two years later, in 2019 there was still no diagnosis or improvement. A very close friend, whose daughter is a nurse at Mass Eye and Ear (MEE) Infirmary in Boston, contacted Len one day and asked what he was doing about his voice.
Len explained, There’s nothing that can be done. She said, BS and before he knew it, he was scheduled to see an Otolaryngologist at MEE. That was February of 2020. By March 2020, just when COVID 19 was spreading around the country, he was told he had stage IV squamous cell cancer of the vocal cords.
He had the option of chemotherapy and radiation or a total laryngectomy. After a discussion with his wife, Margaret, and a speech pathologist at the hospital, Len decided to proceed with the laryngectomy. I wanted the cancer out of my body!
During the winter, Len is a Professional Ski Instructor in Vermont. Teaching became difficult as his students (children 5-9 years old) couldn’t hear him very well. On March 15th, 2020, the mountain closed due to COVID. His surgery was scheduled for March 31st but due to COVID concerns, the hospital was not sure if the surgery would even happen. Finally, the day before the surgery, Len was told it was a go. Unfortunately, when he arrived, he was informed Margaret would not be allowed into the hospital for the duration of his stay due to COVID restrictions.
The operation went well, and Len was discharged a week later. During the week he was hospitalized, Len and Margaret stayed in touch via Zoom and FaceTime. They even used technology to have the nurses teach Margaret how to assist him in caring for his stoma. Since Len couldn’t communicate well without a voice box, he used Caring Bridge to keep friends and family appraised of his progress by writing a daily journal.
I asked them not to reply with well-wishes but to leave a joke instead. Something that would cheer everyone up. It worked out well as the jokes came in fast and furious, added Len. Toward the end of the week, Len started using an Electrolarynx to speak to Margaret, family, and friends.
I stayed in Boston with my wife, close to the hospital for about a month after surgery while awaiting a determination from the doctors, oncologist, and radiologist regarding future treatment, explained Len. Fortunately for me, the cancer was localized to my vocal cords and had not spread to any lymph nodes. Significant margins were obtained, resulting in the avoidance of any chemotherapy or radiation. I was very lucky. The first question I asked my surgeons was, ‘Would I be able to teach skiing again?’ They did not see a reason why I couldn’t, so that became my goal.
Len believes that there is no question he would not have progressed or healed well without the support and care of his loving wife Margaret. This is not something one can recover from by oneself. It takes a village; more importantly, it takes a caregiver, added Len.
Len is now multiple years post-op, and although he did not teach in 2021, he was back on the slopes in the winter of 2022-2023 – his 17th year instructing.
Since his surgery, Len has become active in laryngectomy clubs in Boston and Orlando (where he lives when not in Vermont). He has also joined the International Association of Laryngectomees, Lary’s Speakeasy, and WebWhispers. All organizations whose mission is to help those who have lost the ability to speak due to head and neck cancer.
In the past many years, Len has met many Laryngectomees who have had a much more difficult time recovering from this surgery.
It is my strong desire to help others who have been afflicted by this type of cancer. There is always hope, and I have been fortunate to be able to return to the sport I love. The kids I teach have been great and are an inspiration. They ask me why I talk funny, and I tell them I had cancer, and my voice box was removed so now I sound like this. They say, ‘OK’ and we all go on skiing!
Shortly after Len’s surgery, he and Margaret decided to get serious about their health and eliminated sugar, vegetable oils, carbohydrates, and processed foods from their diets. I am a firm believer that cancer loves sugar so why feed it!? Margaret and I have each lost over 50 lbs., workout regularly, and eat plenty of beef, bacon, fish, and eggs. We’ve never felt better, added Len.
Len is happy to share his story if he can help others in any way.
