Umberto’s Journey with Larynx Cancer:
“Finding My Voice – and Others’ Voices – Back”

Navigating the Burden of Disease

Head and neck cancer (HNC) affects areas like the throat, mouth, and voice box. It is a significant global health concern, with increasing incidence rates worldwide. As of 2020, HNC was the seventh most common cancer globally, accounting for approximately 890,000 new cases (4.5% of all cancer diagnoses) and 450,000 deaths (4.6% of global cancer deaths) annually¹. The global incidence is predicted to rise by 30% annually by 2030^1,2.

Umberto: “When the doctor told me I had larynx cancer, I fainted. My world turned upside-down.”

Beyond its physical impact, the condition can be truly disruptive as it often impacts vital functions such as speaking, breathing, and swallowing, along with potential long-term side effects from treatments like surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, which can alter physical appearance, voice, and overall quality of life.

For many patients, these physical changes, such as scars, the use of a stoma, or noticeable differences in speech, require significant emotional adjustment. Social situations can be particularly challenging, as visible or audible changes often draw attention and can make patients feel self-conscious.

Umberto recalls, “When the doctor told me I had larynx cancer, I fainted. My world turned upside-down. It wasn’t just about losing my voice. It was about coming to terms with how my life would be different moving forward. My job, my social life, everything changed.”

Adding to these challenges is the psychological toll of living with cancer. Many patients face the fear of recurrence alongside the emotional burden of adapting to their new reality. Umberto shares his journey with us, a moving and inspiring story of resilience and empowerment.

Learning to Speak Again

In the wake of his total laryngectomy, Umberto faced another daunting challenge: learning how to speak again without a voice box and vocal cords

When diagnosed in 2004, Umberto was explained that surgery was needed: they would need to remove his voice box (larynx) to eliminate the cancer, which is called a total laryngectomy. In the wake of the surgery, Umberto faced another daunting challenge: learning how to speak again without a voice box and vocal cords.

Determined to reclaim his voice, he mastered tracheoesophageal speech, a technique that allows individuals to produce sound by redirecting air to the cervical esophagus. “It was a slow and sometimes frustrating process, but every small step felt like a victory,” he says. “The best way to describe it, it taking in air and releasing it, a bit like when burping.”

This personal triumph became the foundation for something greater. Not only did Umberto reclaim his ability to speak, connect and express himself, but he also discovered a passion for helping others facing similar challenges to do the same.