Janice Hayes and a friend stepped into the elevator after leaving a recent meeting of the Greater Atlanta Voice Masters, a support group for people who have lost their vocal cords to larynx cancer. The two were talking and laughing through prosthetic devices that give their new "voices" a raspy edge.

"And the man in the elevator looked at us and smiled," said Hayes. " 'You two must have gone to the same concert last night,' he said. He thought we were hoarse from screaming."

Andy Sharp/AJC (ENLARGE)

Real estate agent Janice Hayes (left) shows a home for sale to son Bob Hayes and his wife Laura, who have been married for eight months and are shopping for their first home together.

RELATED: Cobb news Georgia and metro news

Some people might have taken offense, but not Hayes.

"I take it as a compliment when someone thinks I have a sore throat," she said. "Usually, I wait until they say something before I tell them about my laryngectomy. Usually they don't have a clue that I don't have vocal cords."

Looking at the Marietta resident's busy life these days, it's hard to imagine that cancer almost sidelined her 10 years ago. A smoker from the age of 13, Hayes was enjoying life with husband Jim, her high school sweetheart, and their two sons. She was a stay-at-home mom, considering a career in real estate, when the news arrived.

"It was quite a shock," Hayes said. "I was 45, so young, and my boys were teenagers. It was pretty scary."

But not only did she survive the surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, she learned to speak with a small voice prosthesis that fits in the middle of her throat.

"Thanks to modern technology, it vibrates just like your vocal cords," Hayes said.

Within six weeks of the surgery, Hayes was learning how to speak and attending sessions of Voice Masters, where she was inspired by the group's positive attitude. Today, Hayes is the president of the metro area chapter that meets on the second Thursday of each month near Emory University.

"We get 10, sometimes 20 people at each meeting," Hayes said. "Some of us, including me, visit people going through the same surgery . And we have a support group online, called the 'Web Whisperers.'?"

Through Voice Masters, Hayes had a part in the documentary, "Fatal Addiction," on the dangers of smoking. The film is frequently shown to school students. She also discovered the International Association of Laryngectomees, a group that works for the rehabilitation of anyone who has undergone vocal-cord surgery. It wasn't long before she got involved there, too, and she is now on the board of directors, heading the public affairs committee that plans meetings, writes grants and works on member programs.

Hayes, who five years ago did become a real estate agent, also has been recruited to work on educational programs through the Yul Brynner Foundation and the American Cancer Society. Several times a month, she stands in front of a group of middle or high school kids and grabs their attention with her opening line, "I talk a little funny because I have no vocal cords."

"That gets their attention right off!" said Hayes with a laugh. "I then tell them how I used to be a smoker and I share my personal story. I tell them it's much better never to start [smoking] because sooner or later, it's gonna get you. I'm very honest."