When Warwick Smith found himself struggling to speak at his job as a court clerk, he knew something was seriously wrong. The 67-year-old had been experiencing the strange symptom for months but doctors kept brushing it off as laryngitis.
But Warwick, from Littleborough, knew it wasn’t just a lingering cold – making visits to his GP time and time again. The grandad-of-six was repeatedly told not to worry but was referred to a specialist just to “be on the safe side”.
As months went by, Warwick’s condition worsened, making it harder for colleagues at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre to understand him.
READ MORE: UK weather: Met Office warns of ‘strongest winds of the winter so far’
READ MORE: Emergency services called to petrol station after man walks in seriously injured
And a lingering fear weighed on his mind – his brother had passed away from throat cancer two years earlier, sparking worry it may run in the family.
“I knew something was wrong, it wasn’t right, it wasn’t normal,” Warwick told the Manchester Evening News.
“The doctor said it sounds like laryngitis and not to worry about it. I said, ‘I’m feeling really worried, it’s been a few months and this can’t be right’.
“My brother died from throat cancer two years beforehand. I was worried at the back of my mind because of family history. They told me to wait and it got worse and worse.”
Desperate for answers, Warwick decided to visit his GP for a third time to no avail, a trip that saw him break down in tears.
It wasn’t until a cancellation opened up an appointment that he was finally seen by a specialist at a local hospital.
There, medics performed an examination with a camera up his nose. The results were concerning and a biopsy was ordered.
By October 2022, almost a year after his symptoms started, the biopsy results were back. Warwick had stage 4 laryngeal cancer, a type of throat cancer.
“The first thing I thought of was my brother,” Warwick said. “You become Dr Google yourself. Everything on there said it wasn’t normal.
“My feelings were anger more than anything. You just feel so, so angry.
“I asked what the outlook was. They said if you leave it, you have six months max or you can opt for a total laryngectomy. It will remove the lymph nodes, but you won’t be able to talk.”
A laryngectomy is a surgery where the voice box (larynx) is removed. This is often done to treat throat cancer.
After the surgery, the person will no longer be able to speak in the usual way because the vocal cords are removed. Breathing is done through a hole in the neck called a stoma.
Warwick said he had no choice. He underwent the life-changing procedure in December 2022 followed by a few days in intensive care.
Once he woke up, he had to get used to speaking with his throat stoma, a process which sees him press on the hole in his neck.
The stoma then allows air to go from the lungs to the throat, making a sound Warwick can shape into words.
Warwick says he found his recovery difficult. “You just have to practice,” he added. “It’s frustrating.
“I used to rabbit on a bit, so living in a world of silence is so frustrating. A lot of people think you’re deaf as well or just ignore you. You have to write things down.
“I used to type things out on my phone. You’re just so desperate to speak.”
But Warwick managed to find small victories even in the face of such challenges – including ordering a pint of beer in his local pub for the first time since his surgery.
Following the procedure, Warwick also underwent six weeks of radiotherapy to treat the cancer in his neck followed by weekly gruelling chemotherapy.
During this time, the grandad suffered complications when his kidney function dropped to just 20 per cent and his chemotherapy had to be adjusted.
Thanks to the procedure, doctors say he now has a 40 per cent chance of surviving for five more years.
“I got through the intensive care experience and got out two weeks before Christmas,” he added.
“I’ve just had a scan and I’m just waiting to see the specialist again to get results of that. Hopefully I’m in remission.
Warwick is now raising cash for The Oldham Quiet Ones, a Greater Manchester laryngectomy support group where is a treasurer.
Formed more than 20 years ago by speech therapist Janice Lang from North Manchester General Hospital, the group aims to support laryngectomy patients by providing mutual understanding and reassurance.
Warwick hopes the fundraiser will help with the cost of medical equipment including travel nebulisers to give members more freedom.
The cash will also be used to replace neck masks and electro larynx microphones to enable speech.
To donate, follow the link by clicking here.
