Merel Latenstein

Since 2009 I have enjoyed working at the Speech Therapy department at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. In this hospital, I see all patients who have problems with speech, swallowing, voice, language or hearing as a result of a tumor or the treatment of a tumor. I see these patients for examination and treatment. Speech therapy treatment focuses on remedying or reducing the problems and improving the quality of life.

On Wednesday afternoons, I run an extra consultation hour especially aimed at people with a total laryngectomy. In this group of people, the larynx has been removed. I see them for check-ups, advice and for speech and smell rehabilitation after surgery. I also regularly give a course with the head and neck surgeons about this operation and the subsequent rehabilitation both at home and abroad. I am also part of the head and neck rehabilitation program. I work together with a team of enthusiastic medical and paramedical specialists to draw up a rehabilitation program that is tailored to the individual needs of the patient, so that a patient can return to society more quickly after his/her treatment.