Cancer treatment stops jazz great working
Kiwi jazz great Nathan Haines is unable to play or sing after having a cancerous tumour removed from his throat.
Haines went under the knife on December 27 in an eight-hour operation to remove a large tumour on his larynx.
While he hopes to make a full recovery, for the time being the award-winning singer and saxophonist is unable to eat, drink or talk above a whisper. He has lost half his larynx and epiglottis so will have to relearn how to swallow.
Haines, 45, answered questions via email from his hospital bed.
He first felt something in his throat in October 2017. After three GP visits, an endoscopy found a ‘‘large ulcerative mass – possibly benign’’ in his throat.
He had two ‘‘de-bulking’’ operations to clear his airway before his cancer diagnosis came in, shortly before Christmas.
Then, on December 27, the big operation. Haines’ doctors said it went ‘‘very well’’, but he’ll need another operation later in January and then radiation therapy. No-one can say when he will be fully recovered.
In the meantime, Haines is unable to ply his trade during what is typically his busiest time of year. He had numerous festivals, weddings and other gigs lined up.
‘‘By the end of summer I am usually totally exhausted from gigging so much,’’ he said. ‘‘However for once this year I plan to feel the opposite – very rested, calm and ready to see where life takes me next.’’
Having to cancel his summer gigs has had major financial implications for Haines and his family – wife Jaimie and 3-year-old son Zoot.
Haines, who spent 20 years living and playing professionally in London before returning to New Zealand in 2015, hasn’t given up on his plans for 2018.
He hopes to release a new album and continue his exploration of drum and bass.