Courtesy photo Phil Rabon of Williston, shown here at the Herald office, spoke recently about his experience with throat cancer. Rabon said keeping positive and having a strong support network to keep you going is important in the battle against cancer.
"Stress seems to be one of the reasons why cancer returns. You've gotta think positive about all this stuff," said Rabon.
Rabon was diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer, commonly called throat cancer, in 1999.
The long-time athletic coach at Williston State College said the process began in 1993.
Between 1993 and 1995 he had 10 separate surgeries on his vocal chords to remove growths. "Every time, they never found cancer," said Rabon.
Rabon said it was unusual that after so many surgeries no cancer had been found.
He retired in 1996 because of the impact the surgeries had on his vocal chords. In fall of 1999 the growth returned.
This time cancer was found.
This resulted in surgery and seven weeks of radiation treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. However, the growth returned again in 2002.
"I went in and did a laryngectomy, which is taking out the larynx," said Rabon.
Rabon explained that when the larynx is removed the airway is separated from the mouth, nose and esophagus. After that he said you breathe through the neck.
He added that there are different ways to allow for speech.
The method he chose was to have a voice prosthesis placed in the breathing hole. To operate, he presses the button on his neck and can talk.
Another method is to use a voice box.
Rabon said 90 percent of those with throat cancer developed it through smoking. He said he was part of that 10 percent that aren't smokers.
To give back, Rabon has volunteered for the last eight years to talk to local fifth graders about the dangers of smoking.
Even though he didn't smoke, Rabon said the goal is to show what could happen if they smoke so they make healthy choices.
"I've been given an opportunity to do some good," said Rabon.
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 36,540 new cases of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer are reported each year.
For more information, visit www.cancer.org.
The Upper Missouri Relay for Life — part of the American Cancer Society's largest fundraiser — scheduled to take place in Williston on July 30 at Cutting Field in Williston.
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