Published: Thursday, 29th November, 2007 09:00
Tracey's final song
By Tracey Bryce
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Tracey White gave an emotional final performance at the Mouth Cancer Voice Awards.
A SAUCHIE mum who defied medical odds by getting her voice back, despite being told she may never sing again, went out with a bang when she staged the last – and most emotional – concert of her career.
Tracey White, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2005, has been forced to quit singing as her voice is deteriorating as a result of damage caused to her vocal chords during radiotherapy treatment.
But her farewell performance at the Mouth Cancer Voice Awards in London was one she won’t forget in a hurry.
“It was fantastic – I got a standing ovation and everything,” Tracey told the Advertiser. “It was certainly a good way to go out.”
Tracey was hand-picked to perform at the glittering awards bash in the Jerwood Vanburgh Theatre as part of a celebrity line-up – including BBC Watchdog presenter Julia Bradbury, West End singer and actress Julie Atherton and Helen Laderer, a comedian, actress and author best known for her role in Absolutely Fabulous – to help raise awareness of mouth cancer and the risks which can lead to the condition.
As the Advertiser previously exclusively revealed, the 37-year-old singer underwent three major operations to remove 12 cancerous tumours from her throat, months of radiotherapy and weeks of speech therapy, only to be told by medics that it was unlikely she would ever sing again.
But the brave mum-of-two emerged from the treatment with a voice stronger than ever and returned to the stage with her rock‘n’roll band Tracer.
After two years back on the road, however, Tracey’s voice has started to deteriorate, forcing her to take the hard decision to quit the band and undergo more surgery.
“Thankfully there haven’t been any more tumours, but my voice is getting weaker now than it was after treatment.
“I’m struggling to sing the lower notes, so I’ve decided to make the Mouth Cancer Voice Awards my last gig.
“It’s devastating for me because I’ve been singing for years, but my voice isn’t going to get any better so it has to be done,” Tracey said.
She added, “The doctors told me I would never sing again but I’ve had two years more than they thought, so I should really be grateful.”
Although disappointed, Tracey is happy to have had the chance to inspire others by performing at the Mouth Cancer Voice Awards – and prove that there’s life after diagnosis.
She said, “It was such an opportunity for me as a singer to perform in London, but it was also a chance to show people with cancer that it’s not the end of the world.
“I wanted to let people know that, despite the diagnosis, with a bit of positive thinking and determination, you can do things.”
Tracey added that the love and support of her family, particularly her husband John, had inspired her to continue – and she thanked them for putting up with her throughout her illness.
She is due to be admitted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary in the next couple of weeks for her fifth operation.
Tracey, however, has no intention of quitting the music industry altogether and is determined to ensure Tracer continue even without her.
She said, “I intend to keep my band going, albeit with another singer.
“It will be hard for me, but the guys in the band are too good for it all to end, so hopefully we will find the right singer soon and I will continue to take the bookings.”
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