Kentish Express Ashford & District
Woman shares moving tale of throat cancer fight
A woman has written a moving account about her series of intense throat operations which she hopes will raise money for a hospital ward in Ashford.
“Speechless – My Laryngectomy Story” details the medical story of Jo Jenner, 44, who lives in St Mary’s Bay, Romney Marsh after she was found to have a tumour in her larynx two years ago.
Twenty per cent of the profits from the sales of her book will go to the Rotary Ward at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital in recognition of their work before she was transferred to Guys Hospital in London where she ended up having a partial laryngectomy.
In the book, Mrs Jenner talks openly about how she was more impressed with her treatment in Kent compared to London.
She said: “Being at William Harvey was very frightening at first, but the nurses were amazing.
“They took the time to ensure I knew what they were doing and why and they were always happy to sit with me and just make sure I was okay.
“The doctors always stood where I could see them, which is not that simple when you can’t move your neck.
“I had to write my questions on a piece of paper and they were very patient and waited for me to finish before they answered.
“I had a named nurse assigned to me but if she was unavailable another nurse would still come quickly if I pressed my buzzer.
“They always explained what they were doing and taught me how to look after my tracheostomy by myself without making me feel like some kind of idiot.”
Mrs Jenner has not sugarcoated her experiences in the book.
“I have always been a strong and positive person but even I found it hard at times.
“My husband Nick was with me throughout and whenever I got upset or downhearted he would remind me how far I had come and he would always be logical even when I was being illogical.
“The book tells of my many operations and how things kept going wrong.
“I have been very candid about my mental health struggles and how the little things can make the world of difference.
“I was supposed to have one operation and be off work for six weeks. In the end I had nine operations over 12 months and even then as I was been wheeled in for the last operation my con- sultant still said he didn’t know whether it would work or not.”
Mrs Jenner still suffers the after effects of the surgeries.
She cannot drink quickly or eat dry foods, and must turn her head and dip her chin before she can swallow. She now has half a larynx and 66% airway.
Mrs Jenner said: “I wanted to thank the nurses on the ward at the William Harvey because they helped me more than anyone else to understand my condition and taught me how to deal with it.”
The book is available to buy at amazon.co.uk by searching “Speechless - My Laryngectomy Story”.