Golfing with Gratitude - Keith Walker's Story
Every year Keith Walker (66) attends a local golf tournament with friends; a day filled with great food, laughs, and roaring cheers for the spectacular golf on display. However, shortly after attending the tournament, he and his wife, Judy, began to notice something unusual. Keith’s voice was unusually coarse, and speaking became very strenuous. Unsure of the cause, Keith and Judy sought treatment at their local M Health Fairview Clinic in Elk River. The voice specialists began with simple voice therapy sessions, but realized the root cause of Keith’s coarseness was not just vocal agitation, but larynx cancer.
They recommended that Keith seek further examination and treatment from the team here at the University of Minnesota. Here, he met with Ashok Jethwa, MD, a head & neck surgical oncologist. Keith and his wife found Dr. Jethwa extremely informative as he thoroughly explained all of the treatment options in clear detail. His expertise, along with his calming nature, eased their anxieties during a very scary time. During diagnosis, Dr. Jethwa explained that a surgical approach would be the best option, although Keith might not be able to speak again. Hearing that Keith may never speak was devastating news; still, the Walkers trusted Dr. Jethwa and knew this was the best chance to beat cancer.
Regarding the diagnosis and surgery, Dr. Jethwa said, “Mr. Walker had T3 larynx cancer. He was a very healthy man, so I was able to offer him all treatment options. We did not feel he was a good candidate for minimally invasive transoral laser surgery; however, he was an excellent candidate for an open partial laryngeal operation called a supracricoid laryngectomy. The challenge was that I had never performed this procedure before, and these operations are rarely done in the current era due to advances in minimally invasive techniques and refinements in radiation techniques. Fortunately, we are part of an excellent department with very skilled and experienced faculty. For this operation, Samir Khariwala, MD, MS, and I worked together and were able to successfully remove the cancer in its entirety.”
After a successful surgery, Keith began his recovery with the support of a tracheostomy and a feeding tube. The first month was extremely draining on Keith physically, as he lost nearly 15 pounds, and mentally on his loved ones, who worried if he would be okay. But to their relief, Keith was able to speak again, having conversations with family and friends, a small moment of hope during his early days of recovery. “We didn’t think he would be able to talk at all after surgery, so it was a blessing that Keith could speak perfectly again with his family and friends,” Judy said. Gradually, Keith was able to relearn to chew and swallow, and according to his speech and swallowing therapist, Heather Erickson, “he can eat everything again.” About 30 days post-surgery, Keith began to return to his old self.
Upon returning home, Keith’s daughter-in-law made custom T-shirts that read “I ♥ Kevin” an inside joke within the family. Keith smiled ear to ear, knowing his family was fully behind him and glad to have their Keith back.
A year later, Keith was faced with another health challenge, as he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. With the same determination and after another tough battle, Keith successfully healed and is now cancer-free. Speaking with Keith, he said, “I am doing well and am very grateful for the surgery performed by Dr. Jethwa and the other faculty in the department. As amazing as it was though, it didn’t improve my golf game (chuckling hysterically).” Today, Keith is enjoying retirement, spending time with family and friends, and soaking up the summer sun on the golf course.
Keith with his wife Judy, at his grandson Brady's graduation.
