Vocal Folds Growth… How dangerous is it, and what could happen if left untreated?

Lately, I have been having more inquiries about almost all types of growth on the vocal folds (vocal cords). The most “popular” inquiries are about nodules on the vocal cords and, nonetheless, also polyps on the vocal folds. Over the years, I, non-surgically, have treated all kinds of unpleasant vocal disorders, and I have to say that the polyps are the most stubborn of all. Moreover, they have tendencies to multiply even after they have been removed surgically.

A good example of that would be the case of a singer named John Mayor.  

Polyps have some kind of a viral nature, opposed to nodes and nodules.  I believe that due to that, they could multiply and multiply fast. I also know the cases where those nasty polyps turned cancerous. Not too long ago, I got a phone call from an apparently quite known solo Artist’s husband.  According to him, his wife, a solo guitar player and singer, was diagnosed with a polyp on the vocal cord 6 years ago. She was offered surgical removal of the polyp, which she refused profusely and just continued with her busy schedule of vocal/guitar performances.

Evidently, she was not looking for any solution, including non-surgical, or any other for that matter. Meanwhile, her voice was deteriorating gradually and eventually, subsided to the point that she could hardly speak, let alone sing.  At this point, she had no other choice, but to agree to have the surgery and have that polyp removed. During such surgery, when any growth is being removed, the doctors send it to pathology in order to verify that it is benign or conclude otherwise. Unfortunately, in her case, the result of the test came back malignant. The husband of the aforementioned person had passed the phone over to her to speak to me. That was 2 months after the surgery was performed and I still could not make out any words that she was saying.

It mostly was the whisper and hiss. How sad is that?

So the moral of it is; if God forbid, you got diagnosed with any kind of voice disorder and especially any kind of growth on your vocal anatomy, please do not pretend that nothing has changed, as there is no change without change and, therefore, you should take immediate care of that matter, surgically or non-surgically, but please deal with it with whichever means you find suitable.

The best way, as we all know, is to prevent such events and take good care of yourself and all of your organs, voice included. The voice is the main tool for communication and you have to treat it with care and knowledge, thus not to end up on the operating table and out of commission for several months, or God forbid, forever (speaking and, furthermore, singing).