From cancer to cookbooks: the story of Clementine Paddleford.

Clementine Paddleford overcame laryngeal cancer to become the most famous culinary journalist of her time. Through archival research, her long-forgotten tale may be shared anew. Perhaps no individual better encapsulates the consequences of head and neck cancer than does a food reporter, for whom speech and swallowing are truly indispensable. In an era in which vocal rehabilitation after total laryngectomy was limited, and when conservation procedures were still being developed, Paddleford underwent partial laryngectomy in 1931. Thereafter, her tracheotomy morphed into a fashion statement, and her dysphonia became her calling card, as she traveled the world in pursuit of original recipes and the stories behind them. Paddleford reminds us that cancer survivorship is not simply measured in months or years. Her legacy is a testament to both individual willpower and the ability of doctors and patients to balance risks and benefits in pursuit of partnerships with common goals.