“I Thought I Was Done For” — Huh Gak on Losing His Voice After Thyroid Cancer Surgery [Health Talk]

[Financial News] Singer Huh Gak recalled the time he took about a year off from performing because he could not produce his voice properly after thyroid cancer surgery. He said it took about two years to regain his pre-surgery voice. After thyroid cancer surgery, the voice can change if the nerves responsible for vocal fold movement are affected or the tissues around the neck change.
A video was released on the YouTube channel “Singer-Songwriter Jang Jane” on the 23rd, featuring Huh Gak in conversation with singer Jang Jane, his fellow contestant on Mnet’s “Superstar K2.”
Recalling his thyroid cancer diagnosis in 2017, Huh Gak said, “There were no signs or symptoms. I just thought I was tired from working.”
He said he went for a health checkup at the suggestion of an acquaintance, and a subsequent biopsy revealed thyroid cancer. Huh Gak had been preparing to release a new song and hold a concert, so he underwent surgery after completing his scheduled performances.
However, his voice changed after the surgery, making it difficult for him to continue his career as a singer.
“My voice changed a lot. I couldn’t produce the distinctive rasping sound I used to make in my high notes at all,” Huh Gak said. “For three to four months after surgery, I could barely make a sound, so I had to take a year off from performing.”
He explained that even onstage at an event when he returned after about a year, his voice cracked and he had difficulty controlling it as he wanted.
He described how he felt at the time, saying, “I thought, ‘I was done for; my life was over.’” He continued, “It was really hard, but my family stayed by my side and helped me avoid negative thoughts.” He added that it took about two years to regain his pre-surgery voice.
Huh Gak has also shared that he lost 30 kg over four months by combining exercise with dietary changes.


As in Huh Gak’s case, difficulty hitting high notes or changes in the voice after thyroid cancer surgery are possible postoperative effects.
The thyroid is located at the front of the neck, close to the larynx and the nerves involved in vocal fold movement. If nearby nerves or muscles are affected during surgery, the voice’s pitch, quality and ability to produce sound can change.
The National Cancer Information Center at the National Cancer Center lists dysfunction of the nerves to the vocal folds as one possible cause of voice changes after thyroid cancer surgery.
In particular, the superior laryngeal nerve is involved in producing high notes and controlling pitch. Damage to this nerve can make it difficult to produce high notes or loud sounds.
The recurrent laryngeal nerve controls vocal fold movement. If it is impaired, the vocal folds may not move normally, causing hoarseness or difficulty producing sound.
Seoul National University Hospital also explains that damage to the laryngeal nerves during thyroid surgery can cause vocal fold paralysis. Problems with the recurrent laryngeal nerve can cause hoarseness, while impairment of the superior laryngeal nerve can reduce the ability to hit high notes.
However, it has not been disclosed whether the voice changes Huh Gak experienced were actually caused by nerve damage.

A change in voice after thyroid cancer surgery does not necessarily mean that the nerves to the vocal folds have been damaged.
Voice changes can also occur if the muscles and tissues around the thyroid are affected during surgery or movement inside the neck changes.
The National Cancer Center advises that even without damage to the nerves to the vocal folds, people may have difficulty hitting high notes or become tired easily when speaking after thyroid cancer surgery.
This can be a problem especially for people in professions that rely heavily on the voice, such as singers and teachers: even if they can manage ordinary conversation, they may be unable to use their voice as they did before.
According to medical information on thyroid cancer published by the National Cancer Center, about 80% of patients experience mild voice changes immediately after surgery. Most improve over time, but symptoms can persist for a long time in some cases.

The two-year recovery period Huh Gak described was his personal experience; not every thyroid cancer patient needs the same amount of time.

If hoarseness or difficulty producing high notes persists after thyroid cancer surgery, vocal fold movement should be checked.
The Korean Thyroid Association’s “2024 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer” recommend assessing voice before and after thyroid surgery and, when necessary, checking vocal fold movement with a laryngoscopic examination.
Even if the voice changes after surgery, treatment depends on the cause of the symptoms.
If vocal fold paralysis occurs, the position and movement of the vocal folds and the likelihood of recovery can be assessed, and treatments such as voice therapy or vocal fold injection may be performed. Even when there is no nerve damage, voice rehabilitation therapy to improve vocal technique and breath control may help.
The National Cancer Center advises patients to tell their medical team if they develop hoarseness after thyroid cancer surgery or frequently choke while swallowing food.
Seoul National University Hospital says equipment for nerve monitoring may be used during surgery to reduce the risk of laryngeal nerve damage. It allows the location and function of the nerves to be checked during the procedure.
The Korean Thyroid Association also recommends considering the use of nerve-monitoring equipment during surgery in higher-risk situations, such as when the cancer is close to a nerve, lymph node metastasis is extensive, or a repeat operation is required.

Recovery from voice disorders after thyroid surgery varies depending on the cause and severity of the damage.
The National Cancer Center explains that most mild voice changes without damage to the nerves to the vocal folds improve about three months after surgery. Temporary vocal fold paralysis may also resolve over time.
By contrast, long-term treatment may be necessary if nerve damage is severe or vocal fold movement does not recover.
In particular, singers, broadcasters and teachers who use their voices professionally may need a more detailed assessment, as their ability to hit high notes, control their vocal range and sustain their voice may not fully recover even if they can manage everyday conversation.
Regarding voice changes after thyroid cancer surgery, the National Cancer Information Center at the National Cancer Center advises that “people whose profession involves professional voice use should receive voice therapy early.”


[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter