At a glance…

This conference among laryngologists and psychiatrists developed many inter esting points helpful in adjusting the laryngectomized patient to his changed respiratory and speech functions. There was a difference of opinion on whether the larynx-cancer patient should be put in contact with a seasoned laryngectomee as an inducement toward consent to opera tion. A psychiatrist felt that preoperative psychological interviews were helpful. A laryngologist believed that the primary relationship with the patient should be held by the laryngologist who is actually to perform the operation and that the psy chiatrist should appear only as an advisor and should remain in the background un less the patient is acutely disturbed. After the operation, the patient is usually de pressed for a week or two but from then on he is almost euphoric. Some laryngec tomees, after getting their artificial larynx or learning to speak with a buccoesophag cal voice, talk incessantly. Many patients react less profoundly to the loss of the voice than to the tracheostomy tube and the fear of smothering. Roentgen-ray therapy is not so effective as surgery in laryngeal cancer. The former is often re quested by singers and others who live by their voices, hut even with this therapy the voice is usually not of quite the same quality as before treatment. Morale and motivation toward rehabilitation in these patients is fostered by the herd reaction in the many study and social groups com posed of laryngectomees, usually referred to as Lost Chord Clubs.