Voice sounds funny

[Lynle]

I am a 43 year old female who has noticed a change in my voice since July. It sounds gruff sometimes especially when I'm trying to talk low and it cracks. I went to an ENT in September concerned I might have some type of throat cancer. Especially since Michael Douglas came out saying he had it and was hoarse. The ENT said I was not at high risk because I don't smoke or drink but since I was so concerned he looked at my throat and voice box with a scope. He said every thing looked normal except for a little swelling in the back of my throat. I've started taking my medicine for reflux again but don't really see much improvement. I'm still scared I might have cancer. This is a fear I have had for many years not just in the throat area. Have I done all that should be done to check for this?


This discussion is related to Causes for voice cracking.

[Lynle]

Thanks gigiwi & selma. I have had reflux. They did an upper GI about 1 1/2 years ago. I had two ulcers but they weren't the kind that needed an antibiotic to clear up. The doctor gave me Kapidex, now called Dexilant and I took it for about 1 year. Then I thought I didn't need it anymore and quit. The ENT said he thought it was reflux because he saw no abnormalities. He did ask if I had my tonsils taken out and I told him I had not. He said with age they shrink and mine were about gone. I'm just afraid he missed something and I'm not doing enough to figure out what is wrong. I have anxiety disorder and it mostly comes out as hypochondria. No matter what tests are done I still worry until the symptom goes away or some other worry takes over. A childhood friend just passed away from esopohgeal cancer and now I'm worried about that. He was only 46 years old. Thanks again for your replies.

[selmaS]

Hi..reflux can affect ur voice, if u have reflux or had it in the past it is possible u have it again...see ur GI dr.

"selma"

[gigiwi]

Do you whisper or speak loudly? Do you sing  a lot? I am going to speech therapy with my son for a similar problem, but they did find vocal cord nodules on him. The therapist said that you can get the chronic hoarseness for months before you'd actually see the nodules on a scope. Maybe seek help from a speech therapist and if it goes away, then you can forget the cancer worry. I noticed a change in my son's voice after about a month (he's gone to therapy twice, but we are following all her instructions pretty well and its working. You can also talk to your primary physician about blood work. I am pretty sure that if there is cancer, your overall white blood cell count will be elevated, along with some other lab values. Its not definitive, but maybe it will help alleviate worry. Another idea is to see an Oncologist - its always in your best interest to pursue all that is available. Don't worry about looking crazy, who cares. Its your health. Good luck!