American singer and songwriter Miley Cyrus has opened up about her medical condition, Reinke’s edema, in a candid interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe.
The ‘Wrecking Ball’ crooner explained that the non-cancerous vocal cord disorder, characterised by fluid-filled, swollen vocal folds, is often linked to long-term smoking but, in her case, is primarily genetic.
Cyrus admitted that her past habits of drinking, smoking, and partying after shows at age 21 exacerbated the condition, though they didn’t cause it.
She noted her distinctive voice is part of her “unique anatomy” due to a large polyp on her vocal cords.
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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.”