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at 100 Haynes Street Cancer Center

Manchester, Conn

Far any Information call Ms. Alice Nadeau at 860-268-3963

Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC)

 

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The Gift of a Voice


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Staring at the audience, Dr. Itzhak Brook was nervous. In front of him were doctors and cancer survivors. He thought about surviving Israeli wars and the time he lost a patient, but nothing would prepare him for his first speech after losing his vocal cords to cancer.
Outfitted with a prosthesis to help him speak, Brook faced a challenging audience: would they stay or would they go? What Brook learned after his speech would help him realize the power and gift of his voice.

As a professor at Georgetown University Medical Center, Brook is revered for his professionalism and ability to teach medical students the art and science of medicine. A natural at the sciences, Brook discovered his affinity for medicine as a young child.

“Growing up my parents believed in a solid education,” says Brook. “I felt an obligation to make something of my life and my passion for medicine evolved throughout high school.”

Brook finished medical school in Jerusalem, Israel and completed fellowships at Ivy League universities in the United States, publishing research on anaerobic microbes and head and neck infections. He says it was in pediatric infectious diseases where he felt most at home.

“When I was a doctor of internal medicine, I lost a couple of patients and that was hard for me,” says Brook. “But when I went [in]to pediatrics and infectious diseases, I felt I could fight and win on behalf of my patients—it was so rewarding for me.”

Along the way Brook lectured medical students and physicians and treated patients using his voice as an instrument to share his love and passion for medicine.
That all changed in 2006 when Brook was diagnosed with cancer.

After learning he had throat cancer, Brook explains he was “shaken to the core” and did not share it with his friends or colleagues.

“It felt like a death sentence,” says Brook. “I asked my children and wife to keep the news private because I did not want to feel stigmatized as a cancer patient for fear of looking weak and vulnerable.”

Brook felt as if his lucky star was gone.

But, with the love and support of his family guiding him, Brook made it through the grueling radiation appointments that required a leave of absence from work and teaching. While recovering from the first round of treatment, Brook received some unexpected news from his doctor.

His cancer was back with a vengeance. This time, Brook did not have a choice except to tell his friends and family his diagnosis was bleak.

Brook and his wife felt it best to tell their children in person, not over the phone. He met with them face-to-face so that he could answer their questions.

“Each one of my five children is special and we took a lot of time deciding how to tell them my cancer had returned,” says Brook.

His daughter, Sara Brook, was devastated. “My dad had always been a symbol of strength in my life and his sickness forced me to accept that he was vulnerable,” she says. “Although he has approached his sickness with the same persistence he's exhibited during previous challenges, cancer is such an unknown and powerful force. It's a scary fight.”

After revealing the news to his family and friends he was surprised at the outpouring of emotional support. People did not stigmatize him or turn their backs, instead they embraced him.

Brook found an otolaryngologist who would see him through his darkest days. The doctor informed Brook that his only hope for a cure was to remove his larynx—a procedure that would leave him voiceless.

“All of my life I have used my voice to teach and to communicate with patients,” says Brook. “The thought of losing my voice was terrifying but I didn’t have a choice—it was lose my life to cancer or lose my voice—I chose losing my voice.”

Brook did receive some good news prior to surgery. His doctors told him a voice prosthesis might allow him to speak again one day in the future, but it would be a slow and tedious process. This hopeful possibility that would help get Brook through surgery.

After the surgery, Brook fought frustration and depression and faced additional health issues as a result of surgery.

Then there were the uncertainties of the voice prosthesis— how would his voice sound? What if the prosthesis failed to work?

The surgery to insert the voice prosthesis was successful, but speaking again did not come easily. Learning to speak included additional speech pathology visits and, as Brook feared, he was not immediately comfortable with the sound of his new voice.

“Imagine not sounding like yourself,” says Brook. “I spoke with a soft whisper—I had no idea how people might react.”

Following physical therapy and learning to use his prosthesis, Brook rebounded. He returned to teaching and the medical profession. But, this time, he was going to do it differently.

He no longer remains distant from his patients. Now he hugs them, he comforts them. He encourages them to use their voices and to speak up when something is wrong. He knows what it’s like to be in their shoes.

“Our voice is our most powerful tool. It’s our biggest advocate for our health and wellness,” he says.

So when he was asked to give a lecture to a large group following his treatment, Brook hesitated, but after much thought he accepted the invitation.

Although he feared people would walk out of the room, unable to understand or cringe at his airy, soft whisper, he began to speak. “I am Dr. Itzhak Brook,” he said. “I am a cancer survivor.”

To his surprise, no one left the room. Instead, all remained silent as he recounted the story of his amazing fight with an eventual victory.

This first public speech after cancer awakened a new passion in him—to share his story with patients and doctors, encouraging patient-doctor communication and active patient participation.

He now tours the country giving lectures and presentations, no longer the hesitant individual afraid to share his voice, but a man who has learned that his soft whisper has the impact of a shout.

By Tressa Kirby, GUMC Communications



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Dr. Brook with his "My Voice" issues

To All The Laryngecotmees:   The good Doctor Has Allowed us to review his latest issue of " My Voice" for all of us to see an learn about a Doctor's viewpoint with his becoming a larygectomee like ourselves.

Please go to http://dribrokblogspot.com/ and you will experience the many good stories exampled through the eyes of a laryngectomee who is a Doctor.

frank smith

E-CIGARETTES WILL GET OVERSIGHT BY THE FDA AS A TOBACCO PRODUCT.

The nicotine delivery by this product can become very dangerous with the possibility of overdosing with nicotine that can cause a major illness or even death.

Death can be caused by over inhaling the nicotine that is produced by the E-Cigarettes.

This is not  a notice of caution to the Laryngectomees however, many of the Larys have relative that do smoke and may be using the E-cigarettes whereby they should be warned of the adversities connected to the E-Cigarettes.

IAL REPORT

International Association of Laryngectomees has announced that they have had 28 new laryngectomees nationwide and unfortunately, the loss of 11 members who have passed on.

Here locally at our area hospitals we have received one notice of new laryngectomee and we are expecting another who will be operated on within the near future.



frank smith