Vanessa West-Hazard
Cranston, RI | Treated at Tufts
Vanessa West-Hazard, of Cranston, Rhode Island, is a survivor of four head and neck cancers and a laryngectomy survivor.
She was first diagnosed with tongue cancer 19 years ago. Her dentist played a critical role in detecting both her initial cancer beneath the tongue and a subsequent diagnosis. Over the years, Vanessa has been treated for cancers of the tongue, right vocal cords, and upper left palate, and ultimately underwent removal of her voice box.
Vanessa is a recovering alcoholic of 17 years. Her physician, Dr. O’Leary at Tufts, encouraged her to stop drinking, believing alcohol was a contributing factor in her cancer diagnoses. Vanessa chose to quit drinking first, recognizing that attempting to stop both alcohol use and smoking at the same time would not be sustainable. She successfully quit smoking the following year and has maintained both lifestyle changes. While she acknowledges that smoking played a role, Vanessa believes alcohol was the primary contributing factor. She participated in Alcoholics Anonymous for many years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and, although meetings are now available online, she no longer attends.
Vanessa has been cancer-free for six years.
She now communicates with the assistance of a tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) device and uses a TTY machine at home when needed.
Andre Charpentier
President, The Boston Club for Laryngectomees | Boston
Eighteen years ago, Andre could not have imagined that he would one day be sharing his experience as a total laryngectomy cancer survivor. It is an honor he holds deeply, and he and his family remain profoundly grateful for the exceptional care he has received over the years at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI).
His diagnosis of chondrosarcoma of the cricoid cartilage came as a complete shock. It was discovered due to an increasingly raspy voice while he was preparing for hernia surgery. With no known risk factors for throat cancer, the diagnosis was unexpected. Living in the Boston area, he was fortunate to obtain second opinions, which ultimately confirmed the need to proceed with a total laryngectomy.
Six months after surgery—along with seven weeks of follow-up radiation—Andre returned to his work as an electrical design automation engineer, initially communicating effectively using an electrolarynx (EL). Seven months post-surgery, he underwent a tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) and gradually transitioned to TEP speech, which he continues to use successfully today.
Andre’s family has been his greatest source of support. He and his wife, Ginny, will celebrate 50 years of marriage this summer. They are delighted to have their daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons living nearby in Massachusetts, and they thoroughly enjoy visits with their son and son-in-law in New York City.
Beyond the unwavering support of his faith, family and friends—and the excellent medical care he continues to receive—connecting with fellow laryngectomy survivors has been essential to his adjustment. The Boston Cured Cancer Club for Laryngectomees, now known as The Boston Club for Laryngectomees met monthly at MEEI for many years. Since the pandemic, it has transitioned to a virtual Zoom format, welcoming laryngectomees and their loved ones from near and far. The group provides support, information, inspiration, and affirmation—encouraging members not only to survive, but to truly thrive in their post-surgery “new normal.”
He considers himself grateful and blessed.
Abel and Nohemi Vanegas
Abel was originally diagnosed in September 2019. At the time, he was reluctant to undergo surgery or conventional treatments. Instead, he chose a naturopathic approach—focusing on supplements, dietary changes, and eating raw food—which appeared to reduce inflammation. At one point, he even completed an 18-day water fast. While these efforts initially seemed helpful, the tumor eventually resurfaced.
He continued to experience a burning sensation in his mouth and frequently bit his tongue. The area where the tumor was located began bleeding almost daily.
In the spring of 2023, Abel sought further medical guidance and came to Dana Farber and met Dr. Rosh Sethi and Dr. Eleni Rettig. Tongue cancer was confirmed. Abel then moved forward with surgery on June 5, 2023. While he was in ICU, he recalls with much gratitude how Dr. Sethi came the first three or four days first thing in the morning to make sure he was recovering properly. At the end of July, he began chemotherapy and radiation treatments, with a finish in mid-September.
However, after five chemotherapy sessions and 30 consecutive radiation treatments, the last chemotherapy session was discontinued due to a severely weakened immune system. In total, he endured six weeks of treatment. The side effects were significant—painful mouth sores and severe radiation burns on his neck that made even drinking water difficult. But he is grateful because Dr. Margalit’s team: PAs, nurses, and the pink machine team, was the best in helping him in the recovery process.
At that point, the focus shifted to recovery and rebuilding his strength.
Abel, who likes to be self-sufficient, continued working from home but reduced his hours as a bookkeeper. Meanwhile, his wife, Nohemi—a part-time Spanish teacher—transitioned to full-time work to support their family. During this time, Nohemi’s mother traveled from Mexico to help care for Abel too.
Nutrition became a central part of his recovery. Abel relied on nutritional shakes, consuming several each day, along with a variety of fresh juices. Despite her full-time schedule, Nohemi prepared foods each evening for Abel to blend, and together they invested in a high-powered blender to support his needs. She also created vegetable-based purees to help him maintain his weight.
Reflecting on his journey, Abel shared, “Her love was more important than anything else.”
Nohemi, in turn, describes Abel simply: “He is a good fighter.” He required a feeding tube for approximately six months during his recovery.
Married for 26 years with two children—a daughter in her first year of college and a son in high school—Abel and Nohemi were thoughtful about how and when to share the diagnosis. They chose to tell their children during the Christmas season, midway through the school year. The
children handled the news better than expected. Their daughter offered a perspective that brought comfort: “This is in the doctors’ hands. This is in God’s hands.”
Today, both Abel and Nohemi are back to working full-time, and their children are thriving. They have much to be grateful for.
Eva Husson-Stockhamer
Eva Husson-Stockhamer’s cancer journey has been long, often stressful, and deeply transformative. This July, she will celebrate 27 years as a survivor. Her care began in Springfield, Massachusetts, with Dr. Barry Jacobs, where she underwent a semi-radical neck dissection combined with a partial glossectomy. A radial forearm flap from her left arm was used to reconstruct the floor of her mouth and the left side of her tongue.
In 2023, following a recurrence, Eva sought care in Boston with Dr. Heather Edwards, marking the next chapter in her journey.
Eva’s story began in 1999. After organizing a large fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield, she discovered two small lumps on the left side of her neck. Initially dismissed as swollen glands by her primary care doctor, Eva’s friends—a dentist and a maxillofacial oral surgeon—insisted she see an ENT promptly. Their concerns were validated: Eva was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, mouth, and neck. A PET scan confirmed the cancer was localized to these areas, stopping at her collarbone, and she was told it was stage 4.
Despite the seriousness of her diagnosis, Eva remained determined. With two young children and a husband who “couldn’t boil water,” she approached her treatment with optimism and grit.
In July 1999, Eva underwent surgery, spending two weeks in the hospital. Remarkably, just days before discharge, she regained the ability to speak—her first goal being to call 411 successfully, which she achieved a few months later.
Eva began chemo-radiation in September of that year, an experimental combination for head and neck cancer at the time. While the chemotherapy was intended to reduce long-term effects of radiation, it intensified her suffering. After 17 rounds, Eva decided to pause treatment, feeling that the cure was worse than the disease. A hospital stay for a feeding tube allowed her to regain strength, and she completed 10 additional rounds of radiation—27 in total, far short of the planned 40. She accepted the risks of recurrence, prioritizing her health and her role as a mother.
For over 23 years, Eva underwent regular biopsies, scopes, scans, and checkups, gradually spacing them from monthly to every six months. Just as Dr. Jacobs was nearing retirement, a suspicious spot appeared, confirmed as recurrent cancer on the right side of her tongue. With guidance from Dr. Jacobs and Dr. Jerry Schribstien, Eva sought care in Boston with Dr. Heather Edwards. By February 2023, she had undergone two surgeries to remove the cancer and reconstruct her tongue.
In mid-2024, another recurrence emerged. Facing the possibility of losing the rest of her tongue, Eva—then a theater director for adults and children—feared it could end her career. Dr. Edwards performed surgery, preserving as much of Eva’s tongue as possible. Though she now has a speech impediment, Eva has regained intelligible speech by speaking slowly and using diaphragmatic support, with guidance from Dr. Jessica Pisenga at Boston Medical Center’s speech and language department. Eva attends monthly sessions and follows exercises at home to maintain her communication skills
