Transplants of the so-called voice box are extremely rare, and normally aren’t an option for people with active cancer. “People need to keep their voice,” Kedian, 59, told The Associated Press four months after his transplant – still hoarse but able to keep up an hourlong conversation. Dr. Michael Hinni, center left, Dr. Payam Entezami, center, and Dr. David Lott, center right, operate on transplant patient Marty Kedian in Phoenix in February. But Belafsky said there’s “still a shot” for larynx transplants to become more common while cautioning it likely will take years more research. Mayo Clinic via APKedian was diagnosed with a rare laryngeal cartilage cancer about a decade ago.

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Persons: Marty Kedian, –, ” Kedian, “, ”, David Lott, Mayo’s, Michael Hinni, Payam, haven’t, ” Lott, Mayo, Marshall Strome, Peter Belafsky, UC Davis, Belafsky, there’s “, Girish Mour, AP Kedian, wouldn’t, Gina, Lott, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Kedian, he’d, Charlotte Organizations: Washington AP, U.S, Surgeons, Mayo Clinic, Associated Press, Cleveland Clinic, University of California, American Cancer Society, UC, AP, Mayo, CNN, CNN Health Locations: Massachusetts, Arizona, Phoenix, Mayo, U.S, Davis, Cleveland, Haverhill , Massachusetts, Boston