Cancer Survivors Among London Musicians Release Song Highlighting Treatment Delays

A song titled “About Time” has been released by three London-based musicians who are cancer survivors. The track aims to represent individuals currently awaiting treatment and those in recovery from the illness. Monica McGhee, a 36-year-old soprano opera singer residing in south-east London, composed the song following her diagnosis with thyroid cancer. Ms. McGhee recounted her profound concern about potentially losing her singing ability, leading her to perform arias from all her desired roles the evening prior to her operation. She expressed her hope that the song would alleviate feelings of isolation for those affected by cancer, stating: “There is something so comforting about not feeling alone when you are waiting for something in your life to get better.” Data recently released by Cancer Research UK indicates that patients suffering from head and neck cancers in England were particularly prone to extended waiting periods, with slightly more than 50% receiving attention within the mandated 62-day timeframe. Lee Michael Walton, the 50-year-old pianist featured on the track, endured a seven-month wait for surgery to address his uncommon facial cancer. The procedure was exceptionally intricate, lasting 21 hours, involving facial reconstruction, and requiring the expertise of 15 surgeons. He characterized this time as among the most challenging phases of his existence. Toby Spence, a 55-year-old tenor opera singer who also contributed to the song, received a diagnosis of thyroid cancer the day following a performance at the Royal Opera House. However, he faced a nearly two-month delay before his surgery. Ms. McGhee, a resident of the Greenwich area, discovered a lump on her neck in 2017, the same year she sang at the FA Cup Final at Wembley. Although her operation took place within a week, she reported being consumed by anxiety during her wait for treatment at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital. She recounted: “I took myself to a church the night before (the operation) and I sang every single aria of every single role that was on my wish list. That was the last the last thing I did just in case I never, never got to sing again.” Mr. Walton, who resides in Streatham, south London, described taking a walk at Borough Market following his diagnosis, feeling “in a daze, not really being present, just picking things up and being aware that I was not of my usual mind.” He elaborated on the mental state during this period: “In that waiting time, all kinds of fantasies are going on in your head about possible scenarios.” He added, concerning his living situation: “Particularly as I was living alone, that coming home to a flat on my own – your thoughts would be really loud.” During Mr. Walton’s surgical procedure, also performed at Guy’s Hospital, a section of his face was elevated, and bone, skin, and veins harvested from his leg were utilized to reconstruct the roof of his mouth. He was unable to speak or sing for several weeks post-operation but underwent rigorous speech therapy and has since achieved a complete recovery. Mr. Spence, an Islington, north London resident, characterized receiving his diagnosis merely a day after a significant concert as “a strange moment.” His cancer had “quite forcefully” metastasized into his lymph nodes. He explained: “It was a much bigger operation than it needed to be… it had spread all the way up my neck to 23 lymph nodes and so that was the really difficult part.” A team from University College London hospitals performed the removal of his thyroid and several lymph nodes. Subsequently, he commenced daily singing lessons to relearn vocalization. He remarked: “I started to be able to make some sound, it was very sort of whispery, and I thought it might never come back.” He further elaborated on his emotional state: “I think I got very solitary, very monosyllabic during that time. I won’t sugar coat it – I was in a very, very bad place at that time.” He stated that his perspective on life had transformed following his illness, noting: “Just having enough stuff, having enough love, enough security and enough health… that was to me, the greatness of the whole thing.” All three musicians have since resumed their performing careers. Soprano Ms. McGhee is scheduled to make her English National Opera principal debut in February, coinciding with the anniversary of her cancer diagnosis. She commented: “The whole point of [About Time] is that someone, somewhere, is going to say ‘oh my gosh, that’s how I felt’ – and that feels validating.” She added: “Hopefully we are testament, the three of us, to the fact that you can have not just life-altering, but career-altering illnesses and you can keep going.” Mr. Walton remarked that the completed musical work encapsulated “the essence of that precious time, the waiting time and the sense of hope… that kind of yearning.” He concluded: “It’s not an easy feat.” The trio of artists collaborated on the song after being brought together by the insurance firm Zurich Accelerate. Further information regarding their experiences is available to the public on the company’s website.