general information
- Facts and Figures
- Acronyms and Definitions
- What is Larynx Cancer (Links)
- Free for the Asking
- Meetings
free for the asking
Look carefully through the various offers listed below to find what you might need.
Lary education and video
The video, “Laryngectomees Loving Life” was previewed at the IAL Annual Meeting to great reviews. A copy can be requested by calling the IAL Office at 866.425.3678 or by emailing IALED@theial.com. A $5.00 donation per DVD, to help defray the cost of sending these to individuals, in order to ensure this project will be able to continue to others, is not mandatory, but greatly appreciated.
SOME STATES FURNISH A FREE ELECTROLARYNX
The rules are different in each state - you can check the programs of which we are aware on Talking Again - Electrolarynx.
catalogs
Free vendor catalogs are available via the toll-free telephone numbers, Email addresses, and websites listed on our Supplier page. Many of these catalogs contain educational information, photos and descriptions of equipment used by laryngectomees. If you write an e-mail, be sure to include your name and mailing address.
If you hear of a laryngectomee or caregiver who is unable to make the phone calls, write the e-mails, or navigate to the website; you might have a local person (including yourself) make those contacts for them. It will not cost you, them, or anyone other than the vendors anything. The vendors are more than happy to send the materials.
VIDEOS - signs - brochures
TAPES FROM INHEALTH
Patient Demo by Richard Crum
This video is oriented for a patient audience. The purpose is to demonstrate putting in/taking out a prosthesis, and application of the Adjustable Tracheostoma ("hands-free) Valve.
Speech Demo Video By Eric Blom, Ph.D.
This covers approximately 10 different topics most clinicians will deal with when involved in tracheoesophageal voice restoration. This video is oriented to a clinician audience (SLPs and ENTs), but is suited for showing to patients as well (not graphic in nature). SLPs often use this to demonstrate various aspects of TEP speech to patients. It is not recommended to be shown to most pre-laryngectomy patients, and may not be suitable for viewing by some post-laryngectomy patients because of the high use of technical vocabulary.
To obtain your free copy of these video tapes call their toll free telephone number (800)477-5969. Fax: 805-684-8594. Or you can order from their Website or just by dropping them an e-mail requesting the tapes at order@inhealth.com. Be sure to include your mailing address.
FREE Medic Alert Membership for Joining InHealth's Speakers Club
"We are still supplying the Medic Alert benefit for Speakers Club. The first year is free when you join our Speaker's Club and subsequent years are paid if the patient orders at least $300 from InHealth during their anniversary years."
Please check if you are interested. Their website is http://inhealth.com/
Look down the left column for Speakers Club and fill out the application. Their newsletter is always interesting.
11/22/10 PS
TAPE FROM SIEMENS
Speech Options after Laryngectomee
The video features Richard Crum. He discusses and demonstrates TEP and artificial larynx (Servox made by Siemens). Tom Beneventine, who is a laryngectomee and works for Siemens, provides some tips for good AL use. To obtain your free copy of this videotape call toll free (800) 333-9083, ext. 3566; or by sending an e-mail request along with your mailing address to Peter Baumle.
Flying On One Engine - purchase info below
Joshua Z Weinstein's award-winning documentary Flying On One Engine debuted at SXSW and was featured at IDFA and more than 30 film festivals worldwide. The film follows eight-time Nobel Prize nominee Dr. Sharadkumar Dicksheet as he battles failing health and performs marathon operations to cure Indian children of their cleft lips and other deformities.
ABOUT THE FILM
Wheelchair bound, without a larynx, and diagnosed with a life-threatening aortic aneurysm, Dr. Sharadkumar Dicksheet now lives only (and barely) so he can travel to India to perform free operations in marathon-like surgery sessions where up to 700 children receive treatment for their cleft lips and other deformities. Although Dicksheet survives off of social security while living in his Brooklyn apartment, his life is drastically different in India where the eight-time Nobel Prize nominee is treated like a living god. FLYING ON ONE ENGINE shows how this quirky, funny, and sometimes difficult character overcomes his own ailments by curing others.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
Upon meeting Dr. Sharadkumar Dicksheet I knew almost instantly that he was a man who needed to be captured on camera.
Following him to India, I soon realized that working with Dr. Dicksheet was going to be quite the learning experience. On my first day, I anxiously filmed as 50 patients surrounded Dr. Dicksheet and begged for him to operate on them. While I knew there was something profound being captured, I could only understand what was going on through gestures.
PURCHASE - $20
I am releasing the dvd Flying On One Engine, a documentary about a larngectomy survivor, disabled plastic surgeon, and 8 time Noble Prize nominee Dr. Sharadkumar Dicksheet. This film is an intimate and entertaining portrait about a humanitarian that I know will inspire your members.
All information about the DVD release can be found here:
http://mim.io/ab862
webwhispers - free brochures
Download a .pdf file copy. With this file, you can read/download the brochure to print out on your home computer. The Latest version will be found at: http://webwhispers.org/services/free-brochures.asp
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Contact brochures@webwhispers.org for multiple copies for support groups, SLPs and hospitals. Be sure to include full mailing address, and number of brochures needed.
Questions and Answers for the Laryngectomee
From the Florida Laryngectomee Association
A downloadable pamphlet with graphics and information - download pdf
Emergency Pocket Cards
If you want cards for your club, download the PDF file that you can take to your local copy shop and ask them to print one or two copies (which is 10 or 20 cards) on orange card stock,
and then cut them down to pass out.
IF you have other medical issues, you can write them by hand on the blank back of these cards, by the way. The front is deliberately simple so you get oxygen in the right place right away, while they turn the card over to see if there is anything else. Or just write see Med Alert Bracelet if that tells the rest of your story.
Barb Stratton
OVER-THE-BED HOSPITAL SIGN
Courtesy of WW Member Merritt Oakes, you can download an MSWord .doc file copy of the above sign for use in the hospital or elsewhere, as appropriate. Be sure to print out this 8 1/2" X 11" sign in "Landscape mode". Once printed out, you could place this sign above the laryngectomee patient's bed ... so that everyone concerned will know his/her breathing situation. Download sign.
HEAD AND NECK CANCER REHABILITATION INSTITUTE
(800) 305-0117
Email Mary Jane Renner
Free Neck Breather Medical Awareness Skin Decal for use in hospital (to make sure the staff knows you are a laryngectomee). Decal should be placed directly below the stoma or on the back of the hand.
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International Association of Laryngectomees Brochure
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These full-color, informative brochures (printed in 2005) are available from the IAL free of charge for your distribution to new laryngectomees or to interested SLP's, ENT's, etc. For copies, contact:
The new address is:
IAL
925B Peachtree Street, Suite 316
Atlanta, GA 30309
non talking communication
InHealth Technologies
Call (800) 477-5969 and ask for the free "Laryngectomee Needs Chart" (below - available in English and Spanish) so you can point at listed items you may need. Actual size is 8 1/2" x 11". Makes communication a little easier. A small bell for your bedside will help get attention. A laptop, if you have one, will let you type messages in detail or a Magna Doodle from the toy store is great for write and erase. So is the little magic slate.
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free reading material
Headlines
This newsletter was started in January, 1996. The articles range from physical care to emotional support and are written by patients, caregivers, and medical professionals. These can be found on WebWhispers.
Whispers on the Web
This newsletter is in .html and .pdf format . The articles range from personal stories to professional. They are written by WebWhispers members, patients, caregivers and medical professionals. These can be found on WebWhispers.org Read or Download copies.
Medbioworld
Medbioworld is the largest site for free access to medical journals and associations in every field of health and medicine. Links to their ENT/Otolaryngology Journals and Associations are as follows:
ENT/Otolaryngology Journals
ENT/Otolaryngology Associations
Books
My Voice
A physician’s personal experience with throat cancer
by Dr. Itzhak Brook
(WebWhispers Member and Georgetown University Professor gives a personal look as a doctor becomes a patient)
This book captures three years of the authors’ life that followed throat cancer diagnosis and tells his personal story of facing and dealing with medical and surgical treatments and adjusting to life afterwards. As a physician with lifelong experience in caring for patients, the author shares his insights and perspective on these events as he experiences for the first time the effects of severe illness through the eyes of a patient. He endures the consequences of radiation, repeated surgeries, and prolonged hospitalizations. He confronts medical errors in his care, discrimination following loss of his vocal cords, and struggle to regain his ability to speak again and find a new meaning to his life. The author shares his fears, anxieties, frustrations, failures, and ultimate adaptation and adjustment to life with continuous uncertainty about the future.
Dr. Brook shares his book on his blog: http://dribrook.blogspot.com/
translations
Note: When you are translating with a computerized translator, the word it selects may not have quite the same meaning as intended by the original, and because phrasing is not changed, it may be misunderstood. Be careful especially if you are translating medical text or explanations.
Babel Fish
Translates text and web pages from one language to another, including English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Russian. Babel Fish
For those of you interested in cancer care and who care for patients who speak Asian languages, see Cancer Information Translated Into Asian Languages. The Asian Pacific Islander Cancer Education Materials Tool offers healthcare information translated into various Asian languages. The site was produced by the American Cancer Society and the Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Training.
NEED TO SEE AN EYE DOC?
The non-profit Seniors EyeCare Program, formerly known as the National Eye Care Project, is sponsored by the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Knights Templar Eye Foundation Inc. and Alcon. It has been operating since 1986 and has helped more than 1 million seniors gain access to medical eye care.
Under this program, if you are a U.S. citizen or legal resident age 65 or older, have not seen an ophthalmologist in the last three years or more, and do not belong to an HMO or have Veteran's vision care, you can call a toll-free number for the name of a volunteer ophthalmologist in your area.
Then, you make an appointment for a medical eye examination. The ophthalmologist will treat any condition he or she diagnoses during that first visit. If ongoing care is required for the condition, it will be provided free through this program for one year. However, the program will not cover the cost of eyeglasses, prescription drugs, hospital services or fees from other medical professionals.
If you think you are a candidate for this program, or if you know a senior who is, please call this toll-free helpline : 1-800-222-EYES (3937).
More info:
http://www.allaboutvision.com/viewpoints/0300seniors.htm
free medicine
Sent in by Jack Henshaw
The leadership of most American drug companies believe that no patient in need of their available product samples should be deprived of them. As a means of assisting those patients who can not afford to purchase these products, they offer enrollment in their patient assistance programs. Applicants must be truly needy and must not qualify for government drug assistance or have third party insurance coverage for drugs. For a partial list of common medications available on indigent programs of Pharmaceutical companies, go to this web site:
http://www.doctorhealthynet.com/free_medicine/free_medicine_home.htm
Also, look at these sites for those who need medication and can't afford it:
Needy meds
The Institute - Free and Low Cost Prescription Drugs
The Medicine Program
FREE BENEFITS INFORMATION
National Council on the Aging - BenefitsCheckUp
BenefitsCheckUp ? a free, easy-to-use service that identifies federal and state assistance programs for older Americans. Researching these programs used to be a time-consuming, frustrating experience. But no longer. The National Council on the Aging created BenefitsCheckUp to help older adults to quickly identify programs that may improve the quality of their lives. Family and friends can also obtain facts about benefits that their loved ones may qualify for. Chances are, you will be surprised to learn what benefits are available to you, regardless of your income. Here's how it works: You take 10 or 15 minutes to enter information about your financial situation into an online questionnaire. Then, BenefitsCheckUp explains what benefit programs you may be eligible for and how to apply for them. Rest assured that BenefitsCheckUp is completely confidential. It does not require your name, address, phone number, Social Security number, or other information that could be used to identify you. You enter simple information, such as your age, income, and ZIP code, and BenefitsCheckUp identifies programs you might qualify for.
Note: Please check out the Before Laryngectomy and Post-Laryngectomy sections for additional information.
For suggestions, contributions, corrections or questions about this section, please contact: