My Voice: Laryngectomy and Head and Neck Cancer Information

Created by Itzhak Brook MD a physician and a laryngectomee. It contains information about head and neck cancer, life after laryngectomy, and manuscripts and videos about Dr. Brook's personal experiences as a patient with throat cancer. It has information about side effects of radiation and chemotherapy; methods of speaking; airway, mucus, stoma, voice prosthesis; eating and swallowing; medical, dental and psychological issues; respiration; anesthesia; travelling; and COVID-19.

"My Voice"

Order a paperback or Kindle Edition or e-book of "My Voice: A Physician's Personal Experience with Throat Cancer," the complete 282 page story of Dr. Brook's diagnosis, treatment, and recovery from throat cancer.

Order a paperback or Kindle Edition or e-book of "The Laryngectomee Guide," the 170 page practical guide for laryngectomees.

Obtain and/or view a video presentation, instructive manual and a slide presentation how to ventilate laryngectomees and neck breathers (free).

Dr Brook's story on Head and Neck Cancer Alliance website.

To obtain suggestions for laryngectomees how to cope with COVID-19 pandemic click the Laryngectomee Newsletter link.

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Risk of aspiration when Provox Life FreeHands Flexivoice HME is not inserted correctly

I would like to highlight a potentially serious problem that occurred to me when I used the new Life HME filter. I placed it INCORRECTLY with the side with only 2 bars facing the stoma (see pictures) and it got separated and fell into the trachea after several minutes. Fortunately, I was able to cough it out.

Make sure that you attach the HME correctly with the side that has 3 bars (shaped like z) facing your stoma (see picture). If one has questions they should contact their SLP or Atos representative.

Filter side that should NOT face the stoma

Filter side that should

face the stoma

Correct way to insert HME to the FreeHands Flexivoice