American singer and songwriter Miley Cyrus talked candidly about her medical issue, Reinke’s edema in an honest interview with Zane Lowe of Apple Music.
The “Wrecking Ball” singer clarified that although the non-cancerous vocal cord condition, which is characterized by inflated, fluid-filled vocal folds, is sometimes associated with prolonged smoking, it is mostly inherited in her case.
Although they didn’t cause it, Cyrus acknowledged that her previous behaviors—drinking, smoking, and going out to parties after gigs at age 21—exacerbated the illness.
She said: “I have Reinke’s edema, which is something that is called, it’s abuse of the vocal cords. And being 21 and staying up and drinking and smoking and partying after every show does not help,” she said.
“But also in my case, it does not cause it. So my voice always sounded like this – it’s a part of my unique anatomy”.
Fearing the risk of losing her unique voice, Cyrus expressed reluctance to undergo surgery, stating, “I have this large polyp on my cords and I’m not willing to sever it ever, because the chance of waking up from a surgery and not sounding like myself is a probability.”
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