Head & Neck Cancer Patient & Family

18/10/2026

🇬🇧 Specialist long-term effects clinic at Southend Hospital.



“A new service in Southend is helping cancer patients cope with long-term effects of treatment which can emerge months or even years later.

“Southend Hospital has launched a specialist long-term effects clinic for people who have undergone treatment for head and neck cancer.

“The clinic is only the second of its kind in the UK and will support patients experiencing difficulties including swallowing, speech, eating and taste.”

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/26638308.specialist-long-term-effects-clinic-southend-hospital/

12/10/2026

🩺 🎓Thanks to Liana, a Nasopharyngeal Cancer Survivor, for telling the story of her diagnosis, treatment and recovery to a tutorial group of 3rd Year Medical Students today at Adelaide University.

Nick was one of the 12 students who listened intently and asked many thoughtful questions.

Liana had a golf-ball sized tumour behind her nose. It was treated with and after her diagnosis three years ago. Liana has returned to work. Medical and Allied Health appointments are still part of her life. Her regular follow-up appointments will continue for five years.

Nasopharyngeal Cancer: https://www.headandneckcancer.org.au/types-of-head-neck-cancer/nasopharyngeal-cancer/

“The ‘Survivors as Teachers’ program is hosted by Cancer Voices SA. The program began in 2012. It brings individuals with lived cancer experience—patients, families, and carers—into medical education.

“In small-group tutorials at Adelaide University Medical School, survivors share their stories, highlighting the whole-of-life impact of a cancer diagnosis and what helped (or didn’t) in their care journey.

“This program helps future healthcare professionals understand:
- The human side of cancer care beyond medical treatment.
- The emotional, social, and practical challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
- How to treat patients with compassion, respect and empathy.” Cancer Voices SA.

More information: https://cancervoicessa.org.au/involvement-2/survivors-as-teachers/

As a fellow-survivor of a Head and Neck Cancer - oropharyngeal cancer in the lower throat - it was deeply moving to hear Liana’s story. She was a 22 year old university student at the time of her diagnosis. It clearly has an emotional impact for young medical students to hear about the cancer experience from someone they can easily identify with.

Shona Edwards and Daniel Johnstone from Cancer Voices SA developed a poster about the Survivors As Teachers program during COVID. The poster is shown here with Shona at a COSA Survivorship Conference in Adelaide.

The next National COSA Survivorship Conference is in Adelaide 25-26 February 2027: https://www.cancersurvivorshipconference.org.au/

10/10/2026

🚗 Driving through Wagga Wagga NSW yesterday, Wiradjuri country, I remembered my trip to Wagga Wagga 13 years ago. I was in town in 2013 to MC a fundraising event for a local Women’s Health Centre and I was taken on a tour of the Army training base Kapooka.

🧗🏽‍♀️I was invited to abseil down this training tower and, with the help of a very strong Army woman on the end of a rope on the ground, I managed to overcome my fear and do it.

💫 My courage and physicality that day has great significance in my life.

⚡️ It was only weeks later that I was diagnosed with Stage 4 oropharyngeal cancer. It was throat cancer caused by the HPV virus.

😳 Everyone diagnosed with cancer experiences shock. I was astounded. All I had was a persistent sore throat, an odd ear ache and two small lumps on my neck. I felt strong 💪 and brave.

😧 The point of my story? I am just remembering how quickly life can change. And feeling empathy for all my fellow patients who’ve experienced this shock and sudden transition.

😰 I experienced great fear during my challenging but successful treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. I felt scared like a child. Like thousands of others before me, I made it through with support from a multidisciplinary cancer team, my partner and adult children and good friends. Not everybody makes it and that is tough to witness. I send deep empathy to anyone reading this who has lost someone you love to cancer.

🧗🏽‍♀️I’m so glad I abseiled down that tower that day. If you look at the top of the tower, you’ll see that when you start the descent you cannot initially see the bottom of the tower. You have to drop into the unknown. As I faced the anxieties of cancer treatment and recovery from the side effects, my memory of my courage that day helped me stay steady.

09/10/2026

🇬🇧 Cancer survivor receives artificial tongue in NHS first.

“A cancer survivor has spoken of her joy after being fitted with what is thought to be the first bespoke artificial tongue on the NHS.” https://www.itv.com/news/2026-10-07/cancer-survivor-receives-artificial-tongue-in-nhs-first

06/10/2026

“Maskless head and neck radiotherapy using surface‐guided radiation therapy: initial clinical feasibility of real‐time setup, intrafraction monitoring, and automatic beam‐hold.”

“A thermoplastic‐maskless head and neck workflow using SGRT, CBCT verification, predefined beam‐hold thresholds, and dorsal shell support was feasible in this initial 10‐patient experience, maintaining small observed intrafraction motion while directly addressing mask intolerance. Larger prospective evaluation with validated patient‐reported outcomes, dosimetric analysis, and multi‐institutional QA is warranted.”

Article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13615301/

30/09/2026

A Multicentre Retrospective Cohort Study of Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer.

Highlights

• Multicentre evaluation of patients treated with 55 Gy in 20 for head and neck cancers (excluding early glottic cancers).
• Following treatment, there were comparable rates of dysphagia and mucositis with normofractionation studies.
• In some groups, such as p16+ve oropharyngeal cancers, there were high response rates and good overall survival.
• Some subtypes, such as hypopharyngeal and oral cancers, had small numbers and need further study.

https://www.clinicaloncologyonline.net/article/S0936-6555(26)00303-1/abstract)

Many squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) can be cured with radical radiotherapy, but conventional fractionation schedules over 6–7 weeks can be difficult to tolerate. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent HYPNO trial results, interest in hypofractionation (55 Gy in 20 ) has in...

29/09/2026

“Our Bold Plans to Improve How Children Experience Radiotherapy.”

As a patient advocate I aim to share information about innovations. Upright Radiotherapy delivery systems is an area of interest because of the benefits it offers for the patient experience.

Leo Cancer Care

“In June 2026, Stanford Medicine delivered the first treatments using the Mevion Medical Systems S250-FIT Proton Therapy System™, which integrates our Marie® upright positioning and imaging solution and utilizes RaySearch Laboratories ' RayStation® planning system.

“These early treatments have shown that upright pediatric proton therapy is feasible, that it can be applied across a wide pediatric age range, and that anesthesia remains available where it is the right clinical choice. “ Leo Cancer Care.

28/09/2026

☢️ 🎭 The Good News about Open Face Masks for Head and Neck Cancer patients is stirring memories among former patients.

“My mam hated having the full mask and been bolted down, she always thought if there was an emergency or a fire would they be able to get her out in time, so I think this is long overdue for the comfort of the patients ###”. Sarah.

“I had the full face and shoulders chest mask I think the most frightening thing was when you felt the bolts locking you in I just closed my eyes and did happy thoughts and places. It did help my friend who came with me when making mould which is definitely the worst part stopped smoking instantly through fear of ever having to wear something like this so some good came out if it.” Karen 🇬🇧

“I didn’t know what to expect. 100% closed mask with no shoulders. I felt like I was being water boarded. Lips, eyes and mouth closed and my mucous was clogging my nose every time. I drove to the fitting , freaked out , my wife and friend drove over an hour to get my car and they gave me Ativan. Next 35 rounds used Ativan and eventually got more used to it. My wife and my brother alternated taking me over an hour each way. 1.5 years out, cancer free and my memory of this whole experience has fortunately faded. Lucky me.” Bob 🇺🇸

“Maybe it’s just me and my insane positivity and optimism, but it didn’t bother me at all. Sure, it was a bit uncomfortable and confining, and it took 3 or 4 sessions to get totally comfortable with it, but that was it for me. 35 sessions over 7 weeks, 20 minutes each. My technique for managing my mind and knowing how long I would be bolted down was simply to count my breaths. Knowing at a relaxed state my respiration was about 16 breath per minute, I could focus on that, totally relax, and still know how long I had remaining. Several times I fell asleep by the time I got 10 minutes into the session.

“I’m 79 and It’s been 4 years. The cancer is dead and I’m alive. Can’t swallow solids and have permanent moderate neuropathy in my feet, but my teeth are fine and all my bloodwork is perfect.

“I have shared this mindfulness technique with many who were going through this treatment, and all said it helped calm down their anxiety and fear.

“All of us are different, but we share the same experience of having our head bolted down to a table. Kudos to everyone who has endured in spite of anxiety, fear, pain and discomfort.” Art 🇺🇸

🇮🇪 New Research

** OPEN: Optimising patient experience in head and neck radiotherapy, a phase 3 randomised control trial comparing open versus closed face masks
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The use of open face masks provides a potential patient centred alternative to traditional closed masks.

Original Article: Radiotherapy and Oncology (https://www.thegreenjournal.com/article/S0167-8140(26)00619-5/fulltext)

25/09/2026

Recruiting for Study
Beyond the Plate
National Study.

22/09/2026

** OPEN: Optimising patient experience in head and neck radiotherapy, a phase 3 randomised control trial comparing open versus closed face masks
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The use of open face masks provides a potential patient centred alternative to traditional closed masks. This prospective trial aimed to determine whether open masks combined with surface guided radiotherapy (SGRT) can deliver accurate radiotherapy without compromising setup accuracy and a more comfortable patient experience, by comparing three head and neck radiotherapy immobilisation systems: the standard closed 5‑point mask without SGRT, versus two SGRT‑supported systems using open 3‑point or open 5‑point masks.

Original Article: Radiotherapy and Oncology (https://www.thegreenjournal.com/article/S0167-8140(26)00619-5/fulltext)