A personal story from one of our members
Bill Brummel
Bill Brummel underwent a laryngectomy because of the irreversible effects of cancer-combatting radiation, but the experience gave him the courage to see life in a new light. Emmy-nominated filmmaker Bill Brummel survived cancer 20 years ago, but his physician warned that, eventually, the effects of aggressive radiation to his lymph nodes and tonsils would require him to undergo a laryngectomy to remove all or part of his voice box.
“I’ve heard that radiation is the gift that keeps on giving, and though it saved my life, the long-term adverse effects of radiation cause injury,” Bill said. “Over the years, I began to have aches, pains and a growing tightness in my neck. I had many surgeries to remove polyps from my vocal cords and to expand my narrowing esophagus as tissue in my neck began to scar.”
Encouraged by his wife, Frances, Bill attended Nu Voices Los Angeles, a support group at Keck Medicine of USC for patients who have undergone laryngectomies and their caregivers. The fact that people were living rich lives after their surgery made an impression on Bill. “Seeing and listening to them was like staring into a crystal ball,” Bill said. “The experience was disconcerting and at the same time reassuring — the happiness quotient of group members encouraged me in terms of what life may hold after a laryngectomy. But I continued to stall. I was apprehensive and in denial.”
In 2016, Bill’s trachea had constricted so much that he was constantly short of breath. His colleagues noticed that his voice was weakening. His wife said she could hear him breathing, even when she was in a different room in their house. During a routine appointment, Bill’s surgeon, Uttam K. Sinha, MD, who is the medical director of head and neck surgery and an associate professor of clinical otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, insisted that Bill have the surgery immediately.
“He told me, ‘We can’t wait any longer. We have to do the laryngectomy now,’” Bill said. “He considered my condition so serious that he assembled a full surgical team to come into the OR on Saturday.”
During surgery, Dr. Sinha, who is also an otolaryngologist at Keck Medicine of USC, removed Bill’s larynx and reconstructed an opening in his neck, called a tracheostoma, to allow him to breathe. In addition to adjusting to this life-altering surgery, recovery was complicated. Bill experienced swelling, pain and discomfort. His surgery required that a tube be kept inside the tracheostoma for weeks to keep it from closing. Additionally, doctors said it would take from three weeks to several months before Bill could speak again, so he could communicate only in writing.
Prior to the surgery, Bill and Dr. Sinha had discussed verbal communication options. Both had agreed that Bill would benefit from tracheoesophageal voice restoration, a procedure that required the surgeon to create an opening between Bill’s trachea and esophagus. During his laryngectomy, a voice prosthesis — a small silicone device with a one-way valve — was placed in this area, allowing the air to pass through the tissue in Bill’s throat and resulting in vibrations that created a “new” voice.
But with the physical impacts of surgery came psychological impacts, too. Many people who have laryngectomies find themselves depressed, isolated, lonely and scared. They often withdraw and avoid social interaction because of the severe change in the way they speak. With continued support from his friends at his Nu Voices Los Angeles meetings, Bill found the courage to grapple with these emotions.
Bill also met with Brenda Villegas, MS, CCC-SLP, who is an assistant professor of clinical otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at the Keck School and a speech-language pathologist at Keck Medicine, for speech therapy sessions to learn how to use his new voice. He also received swallowing therapy to retrain his swallowing function in addition to undergoing multiple dilations of the esophagus done by Dr. Sinha.
Three months after his surgery, Bill stood in the bathroom and tried to count to 10. “When ‘one’ emerged from my mouth, I was taken aback,” Bill remembered. “I pressed on … all the way to 10. I hated the sound of my new artificial voice, but I was relieved, happy to be able to communicate.”
Currently, Bill is creating a documentary, “Segue,” about individuals living meaningful lives in the wake of their laryngectomies. “It is a stirring testimony about the human capacity for resilience, even in the face of overwhelming adversity,” Bill said.
“I am blessed with a quality of life more resonant than before my laryngectomy, just as my doctor promised,” Bill explained. “I no longer hate my mechanical-sounding voice. I view my disabilities arising from cancer and cancer treatments as battle scars, visible and audible signs of where I came from and what I was able to overcome.”
“But I am acutely aware that I wouldn’t have reached secure emotional health without the love, support and encouragement of family, friends, my medical team and the cancer survivors I am honored to know through support groups,” he continued. “When I was at my emotional lowest, group members helped guide me to a light to illuminate my path forward.”
This article can also be found on the Keck Medicine of USC website: https://www.keckmedicine.org/the-keck-effect-more-courage/
Bill Brummel underwent a laryngectomy because of the irreversible effects of cancer-combatting radiation, but the experience gave him the courage to see life in a new light. Emmy-nominated filmmaker Bill Brummel survived cancer 20 years ago, but his physician warned that, eventually, the effects of aggressive radiation to his lymph nodes and tonsils would require him to undergo a laryngectomy to remove all or part of his voice box.
“I’ve heard that radiation is the gift that keeps on giving, and though it saved my life, the long-term adverse effects of radiation cause injury,” Bill said. “Over the years, I began to have aches, pains and a growing tightness in my neck. I had many surgeries to remove polyps from my vocal cords and to expand my narrowing esophagus as tissue in my neck began to scar.”
Encouraged by his wife, Frances, Bill attended Nu Voices Los Angeles, a support group at Keck Medicine of USC for patients who have undergone laryngectomies and their caregivers. The fact that people were living rich lives after their surgery made an impression on Bill. “Seeing and listening to them was like staring into a crystal ball,” Bill said. “The experience was disconcerting and at the same time reassuring — the happiness quotient of group members encouraged me in terms of what life may hold after a laryngectomy. But I continued to stall. I was apprehensive and in denial.”
In 2016, Bill’s trachea had constricted so much that he was constantly short of breath. His colleagues noticed that his voice was weakening. His wife said she could hear him breathing, even when she was in a different room in their house. During a routine appointment, Bill’s surgeon, Uttam K. Sinha, MD, who is the medical director of head and neck surgery and an associate professor of clinical otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, insisted that Bill have the surgery immediately.
“He told me, ‘We can’t wait any longer. We have to do the laryngectomy now,’” Bill said. “He considered my condition so serious that he assembled a full surgical team to come into the OR on Saturday.”
During surgery, Dr. Sinha, who is also an otolaryngologist at Keck Medicine of USC, removed Bill’s larynx and reconstructed an opening in his neck, called a tracheostoma, to allow him to breathe. In addition to adjusting to this life-altering surgery, recovery was complicated. Bill experienced swelling, pain and discomfort. His surgery required that a tube be kept inside the tracheostoma for weeks to keep it from closing. Additionally, doctors said it would take from three weeks to several months before Bill could speak again, so he could communicate only in writing.
Prior to the surgery, Bill and Dr. Sinha had discussed verbal communication options. Both had agreed that Bill would benefit from tracheoesophageal voice restoration, a procedure that required the surgeon to create an opening between Bill’s trachea and esophagus. During his laryngectomy, a voice prosthesis — a small silicone device with a one-way valve — was placed in this area, allowing the air to pass through the tissue in Bill’s throat and resulting in vibrations that created a “new” voice.
But with the physical impacts of surgery came psychological impacts, too. Many people who have laryngectomies find themselves depressed, isolated, lonely and scared. They often withdraw and avoid social interaction because of the severe change in the way they speak. With continued support from his friends at his Nu Voices Los Angeles meetings, Bill found the courage to grapple with these emotions.
Bill also met with Brenda Villegas, MS, CCC-SLP, who is an assistant professor of clinical otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at the Keck School and a speech-language pathologist at Keck Medicine, for speech therapy sessions to learn how to use his new voice. He also received swallowing therapy to retrain his swallowing function in addition to undergoing multiple dilations of the esophagus done by Dr. Sinha.
Three months after his surgery, Bill stood in the bathroom and tried to count to 10. “When ‘one’ emerged from my mouth, I was taken aback,” Bill remembered. “I pressed on … all the way to 10. I hated the sound of my new artificial voice, but I was relieved, happy to be able to communicate.”
Currently, Bill is creating a documentary, “Segue,” about individuals living meaningful lives in the wake of their laryngectomies. “It is a stirring testimony about the human capacity for resilience, even in the face of overwhelming adversity,” Bill said.
“I am blessed with a quality of life more resonant than before my laryngectomy, just as my doctor promised,” Bill explained. “I no longer hate my mechanical-sounding voice. I view my disabilities arising from cancer and cancer treatments as battle scars, visible and audible signs of where I came from and what I was able to overcome.”
“But I am acutely aware that I wouldn’t have reached secure emotional health without the love, support and encouragement of family, friends, my medical team and the cancer survivors I am honored to know through support groups,” he continued. “When I was at my emotional lowest, group members helped guide me to a light to illuminate my path forward.”
This article can also be found on the Keck Medicine of USC website: https://www.keckmedicine.org/the-keck-effect-more-courage/