Is chemotherapy voice real?
Yes, chemotherapy can affect the quality of a patient's voice. The most common reason this happens is because of weakness; if chemotherapy makes a patient weak in general, the voice may become quieter, deepen, or become "throatier." Some patients also develop problems speaking because of dry mouth, which can make the voice sound hoarse or whispery. Mouth sores can also make it harder to talk. Chemo isn't the only cause of vocal problems, though. Radiation to the head and neck can have an effect on the vocal chords, making it harder to produce sound. If someone you love is having trouble with their voice as a result of cancer treatment, talk to their doctor. Depending on the cause, there may be things you can do to ease the discomfort.
I have also read that the chemo drug Vincristine can cause your voice to be raspy.
Thank you Dr. Rosenbaum, my dad was recently treated for AML with standard chemotherapy and we noticed that his voice is now, 2 weeks after treatment, throaty and on the quiet side. I am a nurse, not an oncology nure, and my first thought was an overwhelming infection since he is neutropenic (wbc 0.8). His hemoglobin in 8.8 and platelet 55. He is on Vancomycin IV and another antibiotic, also IV. No fever and no sign of infection. I asked his oncologist about the voice change, but he didn't mention chemotherapy voice. Thank you for calming my nerves. I will share your knowledge with my dad. God Bless you.
