Steve’s Cancer Journey
Join a renowned musician’s triumphant journey overcoming throat cancer and regaining his passion for performing. Get inspired by his strength and courage!
30 Stories in 30 Days™ // April 2023
I am a 68-year-old jazz/new music trombonist known worldwide through my years of touring and recording. I have been fortunate to have enjoyed a full, prolific career in music.
In mid-2021, I mentioned to my long-time partner, Barbara, that I had the feeling of some food being stuck in my throat. She suggested I see an ENT immediately. The ENT who examined me immediately invited a head and neck surgeon into the examination room to confirm what he thought was there. They both decided it needed a closer look. Within a day or two, they scheduled a CT scan. The scan came back positive for HPV cancer in my left tonsil and possibly the lymph nodes on the left side of my neck. As a musician who uses his throat to play a wind instrument, this diagnosis was potentially career-ending, not to mention life-threatening.
After the positive result for throat cancer, the doctors and staff worked quickly to schedule my surgery. My head and neck surgeon clearly explained everything about the removal of the tonsil through robotic surgery and the left neck dissection to remove the lymph nodes. A speech pathologist was also on-hand to get a baseline of how I swallowed pre-surgery. She explained what I would need to do to improve my swallowing after surgery.
After we scheduled the surgery, my nerves were on edge with what I was about to go through. I feel lucky that Barbara was there to see me through the ordeal.
I cannot give enough praise to the medical staff I encountered. The doctors, nurses, and administrative staff were all terrific and caring. I was especially touched that morning when the hospital security guard wished me, and everyone else who was there for surgery, a personal good luck and a smile before sending us up to the surgical floor. I have to say that at all levels, I appreciated the sensitivity of the entire care team and staff.
My speech pathologist always encouraged me. She showed me exercises to improve my swallowing, and she was always positive…
When I regained consciousness in the ICU, Barbara was there with her loving smile. I was hooked up to all kinds of wires and tubes. While groggy, I didn’t feel all that bad except I had trouble swallowing, which I had been told was expected. Different staff members came into my room, encouraging me and suggesting ways to improve my swallowing. I did the best I could, but it was very difficult. They mentioned the possibility of a feeding tube, which I did not want, so I worked a little harder on their suggestions.
After two nights in the ICU, it was agreed that I might do a lot better if I went home. Once back home, I tried eating different soft foods. I lost a lot of weight, and it has been a struggle to regain weight since. I saw my head and neck surgeon 10 days post-operatively. He gave me great news that I would not need radiation or chemotherapy. It looked like the surgeons had removed all the cancer. I cried and thanked him. I am so grateful for his outstanding abilities, focus, and thoroughness. He patiently answered every question, even the ones I am sure I repeated.
Less than 2 months after my surgery… I was getting around the horn with considerable ease.
After that good news, I had many visits with my speech pathologist to work on my swallowing. Luckily, I live directly across from the hospital. Even so, the first few times walking to the hospital were surprisingly exhausting. The first couple of times I visited the hospital, I remember I had to rest for a minute halfway across the park. My speech pathologist was always encouraging me. She showed me different exercises to improve my swallowing, and she was always positive about my progress. She is a gem!
About four weeks post-operatively, I picked up my horn to try to play again. With all that time off from playing, plus the impact from surgery, I was surprised I could make a good sound, and my abilities to articulate and use my tongue were still intact. It was also amazing considering that a small piece of my tongue was removed during the surgery.
“Music is the healing force of the universe.”
Less than two months after my surgery, I did my first gig at an outdoor venue in Riverside Park through the Jazz Foundation of America with alto player Rob Brown. I was getting around the horn with considerable ease. Many friends were in attendance. It was a glorious coda to what could have been an otherwise devastating situation. I am now back with a full playing and touring schedule.
Even though progress with swallowing has had its ups and downs, the medical staff helped me through every step of the way. They continue to monitor my recovery, testing me periodically to ensure the cancer has not returned.
As musician Albert Ayler famously said, “Music is the healing force of the universe.” I would have to include my doctors and hospital staff to that quote now too.
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