Just on the subject of smoking (and I realise that this may not apply to the person who started this thread) 2 well-known traditional singers have lately developed throat cancer: Ronnie Drew of the Dubliners and Tommy Makem of the Clancy Brothers. I don't know about the former, but Tommy Makem was apparently a heavy smoker though has given it up some years ago. I suppose both however would have spent many hours over the years in smoke-filled venues, which I suppose has a cumulative effect. British people will have heard of the entertainer Roy Castle, who died of cancer apparently due to many years of passive smoking although he never smoked himself.

I have to say that in my limited experience, folk musicians tend to be among the last bastions of heavy smoking (with only a little exaggeration it sometimes seemed that people could be divided into "Smokers" and "Heavy Smokers", and I for one will be glad when smoking in public places is banned next April in Northern Ireland. I usually attend 2 informal music sessions in local pubs each month, and as well as the unpleasant smell, etc, I notice that my harmonica smells of smoke for several days afterwards.

At 1 of these sessions, one man who was quite a heavy smoker died about 2 Christmasses ago from lung problems, which I suspect were contributed to by smoking, sadly, and although of course one misses his playing, one of the sessions is now usually smoke free. Things at the other session have improved from the smoke point of view as one of the heaviest smokers has gone back to Austria and another has given it up (permanently I hope) possibly in anticipation of the fact that he will not be able legally to do it from next April. This leaves only one, and even if he does not follow suit, if we can get him to only use the tin whistle rather than mandolin, etc, he will not be able to smoke at the same time!

I suppose I sound like a non-smoking fanatic rather than a music lover - my own view is that smoke as much as you want but don't make me smoke as well. Smoking is different from drinking as there is no such thing as "passive drinking."

As a lifeling non-smoker my main problem regarding voices has been phlegm and coughing as the after effects of colds lasting many months, and to which I have found no permanent solution; cough sweets can give a temporary respite. Anyway I hope the original posters voice has recovered.