singing during chemo

Subject: chemotherapy and singing
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 07:49 PM

Hi,
Does anyone out there know how chemotherapy can affect your singing voice and for how long during treatments. I understand that it can strongly affect your saliva and mucus production because these are fast growing cells, but I am not sure if this will make it difficult to sing. Does anyone out there have any experience with this? Your advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you

Subject: singing during chemo
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 07:51 PM

I thought I had submitted this, but then it seemed to fall off the list.

I was wondering if anyone had experience singing when undergoing chemotherapy. I understand that chemo strongly affects your ability to produce saliva and I wonder if this could affect the ability to sing.

Thanks for any advice you can offer

Subject: RE: singing during chemo
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 08:31 PM

Unfortunately, I never thought of singing while I was undergoing chemo earlier this year.

The first stumbling-block is the fact that starting within a half hour of the beginning of a session I would have been way too sleepy to sing, if awake at all, which is doubtful. During my chemical nap, lasting maybe two and a half hours, there'd either be no sound or I'd be too woozy to pronounce the words or stay on tune.

After that, I don't know if I'd have had the nerve to sing. Maybe you've got more brass to your appliances than I.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: singing during chemo
From: GUEST,JohnB who appears to have lost his cookie
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 11:09 PM

A friend of ours underwent chemo following a single mastectomy last year. She had a lousy irritated cough and really deep growly voice for the longest time. She couldn't sing and really didn't want to, which is probably a good thing to avoid long term damage. It's cleared up now though and she is back practising for our Yorkshire Pub Caroling, in Canada.
Good luck with your Chemo, JohnB.

Subject: RE: singing during chemo
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 12:13 AM

Thanks you guys,

I wasn't actually talking about singing while having the chemo administered. Rather, I am trying to figure out how feasible it will be for me to sing at the gigs that we already have lined up. If I am too sick to go, then my band will cover, but if I feel well enough I wonder if I will be able to sing or if it might hurt my voice. I can always back off and do less singing at the gigs, but I thought it might be helpful to have some idea about this for planning purposes.

Subject: RE: singing during chemo
From: maeve
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 12:52 AM

Two different friends underwent chemo. Bith are singers. Neither seemed to have trouble with singing, and both sounded the same as they usually did. There were times when neither felt like singing. See how it affects you; there's a fair amount of variability in people's responses to chemo.

Best wishes for your treatment and music!

maeve

Subject: RE: singing during chemo
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 02:32 AM

Ask doctor?

Subject: RE: singing during chemo
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 03:52 AM

Hi guest,   I had chemo in 2003, I was still able to sing in singarounds , it didnt affect me at all, Although I can assure you chemo certainly has different effects on different people. My friend and I went through chemo together and she was ill after every session where as I was lucky enough not even to be sick once, although I did sleep well on the same night as treatment. Other than that I had a normal social life. Hope you have the same results as I did. Good luck with ya treatment for a speedy recovery.... I will think positive thoughts for you.....Suzi

Subject: RE: singing during chemo
From: GUEST,Wasif Haq
Date: 25 Sep 12 - 11:49 PM

Chemotherapy does affect voice quality. If you know Marie Fredriksson of Roxette (they have hits like The look, listen to your heart, Joyride, Fading like a flower, It must have been love, Wish I could fly) her voice was really very beautiful. She suffered from cancer and underwent Chemotherapy, in their latest albums, her voice is changed. Though you can recognize her soft voice but if she tries to sing high note, her voice starts to feel distorted.
For example Youtube Milk and toast and honey by Roxette (song before cancer) and then Youtube Only when I dream by Roxette (in the ending of the song) you would find that she can't sing with that flow.
Likewise people who attended Roxette worldwide tour in 2011-2012, they also noticed that Marie doesn't sound the same live as she used to. In studio albums, her voice is still good but live, now her voice seems very changed.
Dr. Wasif
http://coolbluez.t15.org