|  | | - Survivorship Symposium - less than 2 months away!
- Featured Program - H&N Connect - caregiver education series
- Meet our Ambassadors - this month, Tony Langford
- Good News Corner - share your good news with us!
- News & Shorts - articles, podcasts, and more
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| 2025 SURVIVORSHIP SYMPOSIUM |
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|  | HOTEL REMINDER:
The discounted room block at the Luskin Center closes on September 9th (or sooner if it fills up). Lock in your travel plans now to take advantage of the lower rate and stay at the conference hotel with other attendees. |
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DON'T MISS OUT! REGISTER TODAY FOR THE 2025 HEAD & NECK CANCER SYMPOSIUM! The 2025 Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Symposium is just a few months away! Register today (it's free) and join us on Saturday, October 4, in Los Angeles, CA (or watch online).
Whether you're a survivor, caregiver, clinician, or advocate, this free, one-day event brings together individuals who truly understand what you're going through, including other survivors and experts leading the way in care. If you’ve been thinking about attending in person, don’t wait—1/3 of our in-person tickets are already gone. There’s something powerful about being in the room. You’ll meet others who share your journey, get direct access to top speakers, and experience the community, energy, and support that just can’t be replicated online. And if you’re attending in person, we’ve got something extra in store: Details about our optional pre-event tour of LA will be sent out by the end of this month. It’s a great opportunity to connect, relax, and explore the city before the big day (without the hassle of navigating the city on your own). |
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| FEATURED ALLIANCE PROGRAM |
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| H&N CONNECT H&N Connect is a free, virtual caregiver education and support series hosted by the Head & Neck Cancer Alliance and features special guest presenters. Over 12 weeks, the program offers six sessions featuring pre-recorded 60-minute videos you view at your own pace, followed by live group discussions with medical experts the next week. These sessions focus on practical caregiving tips, emotional well-being, communication strategies, and more. You meet other caregivers, exchange experiences, and learn from leaders in the field—all from home via Zoom. Our fall session starts September 1. Space is limited, but we welcome you to join mid-program or attend select sessions. It’s easy to get started and free. Ready to join? Click “register now” on our site to sign up. Don’t wait—spots fill up fast. |
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| | Tony Langford Husband & Father, Certified Public Accountant | Survivor of Stage IV Tongue and Tonsil Cancer |
| | In December 2008, Tony and his wife Nicole’s lives were upended by his diagnosis of tongue and tonsil cancer. The journey was consuming and changed everything about their lives, though not all the changes were negative. They developed a deeper appreciation for each day and the people around them. I could not have made it through as well as I did without my wife by my side every step of the way, Tony said. We were carried along by so many others. Their gratitude extends to their parents, siblings, extended family, friends, and church community. After enduring treatment, Tony has recovered well, though he still faces lasting challenges. Every reminder of what he’s been through is also a reminder of the joy of being with Nicole and their children, Ashley, David, and Angela. The simplest things, like watching a sunrise, feeling snow, and tasting food, now carry deeper meaning. Tony urges others not to wait for a crisis to start appreciating life, but to give thanks every day for what they have. |
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| | Alliance Ambassador Jamie Powell, a survivor of tongue cancer, was recently featured in a People Magazine article. In the article, Jamie, a 41-year-old mother of two from Coto de Caza, California, reflects on her journey five years after being diagnosed.
The diagnosis was unexpected and came after a bump on her tongue that doctors initially dismissed. In March 2020, she underwent a glossectomy and neck dissection, followed by 30 grueling radiation sessions. Her recovery has been full of loss, including altered speech, blunted taste, chronic dry mouth, and daily struggles opening her jaw. These lasting effects show the brutal physical toll her treatment has taken. Although the road has been harsh, Powell channels her experience into purpose. She documents recovery through social media and her podcast, Young Tongues. She hopes sharing honest stories will help others feel less isolated and encourage people, especially younger, low-risk individuals, to take their symptoms seriously. She stresses that many oral cancers go undiagnosed until late stages, and speaking out is both healing and vital.
Read the full article here. |
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| | Pat Camalliere, one of our newer ambassadors, recently participated in Rush MD Anderson's Cancer Thrivers' Day (an annual event celebrating cancer patients, survivors, and their families, as well as the care providers who support them). Pat, Survivor of HPV-attributed Tongue Cancer, worked at Rush for many years and later received her head and neck cancer treatment there. At this exhibit, she is promoting her memoir, Staying Alive is a Lot of Work: Me and My Cancer,as well as sharing information regarding the Alliance. |
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| | We want to celebrate the wins in our community — big or small! Whether you’ve finished treatment, joined an awareness event, run a marathon, gotten married, become a grandparent, or accomplished something else meaningful, we’d love to share your good news. This invitation is open to patients, survivors, caregivers, and medical professionals. Email us your story along with a photo, and let us know what milestone or accomplishment you’re celebrating. Please note: By sending your story and photo, you’re giving us permission to share them in our newsletter and/or on our social media. We’ll try to include as many submissions as possible, but we can’t guarantee every story will be published. Send your good news (and photo) to: hello@headandneck.org |
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| | | NEW ALLIANCE BLOG POST:
Treatment for head & neck cancer can sometimes injure the vagus nerve—leading to vocal cord paralysis. This aftermath can affect your voice, swallowing, and breathing. Our latest post outlines what causes it, why it matters, and where to find support. It’s a must-read if you or someone close to you is navigating recovery. |
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| | Dr. Maie St. John, a member of the Alliance board of directors, has been named the Andelot Professor and Director of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She currently serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA, and will assume her new role at Johns Hopkins starting October 1, 2025. She brings deep clinical and research experience in head and neck cancer. At UCLA, Dr. St. John holds the Thomas C. Calcaterra Chair and co-directs the Head and Neck Cancer Program. Her translational research focuses on tumor progression, metastasis, and precision surgery technologies—including molecular tools for intraoperative tumor margin detection. She has strong NIH-funded work, leadership in academic societies, and a prolific record of publications and mentorship .
Read the full story/announcement here. |
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| | |  | Join our friends at @TriageCancer for a FREE webinar about Open Enrollment on 9/16! This webinar will take the mystery out of the open enrollment process. Attendees will learn basic health insurance terms and tips for comparing and picking health insurance plans. REGISTER HERE |
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 | Rethink NPC care with expert-led insights on diagnosis, staging, and treatment. Find out more in this activity just added on the Advancing Clinical Excellence Page dedicated to educating on nasopharyngeal carcinoma |
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| | Attention Spanish speakers - join our friends at Cancer + Careers for a free, four-part virtual series in Spanish on navigating work after a cancer diagnosis. The Balancear el Trabajo y el Cáncer series returns next month with new topics (in Spanish) and is open to anyone affected by cancer, including patients, survivors, family, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Upcoming sessions: - Webinar: Balancing Work and Cancer – September 10, 6PM ET/3PM PT
- Webinar: Job Search – October 1, at 1PM ET/10AM PT
- Virtual Q&A: Victoria Blinder, MD – Oncologist – October 22, at 1PM ET/10AM PT
- Webinar: Balancing Work and Nutrition – November 12, at 6PM ET/3PM PT
For more information and to register, visit:
www.cancerandcareers.org/es/recursos/btc |
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| - PODCAST: Survivorship in Head & Neck Cancer
What does it take to improve quality of life after head and neck cancer? This podcast features, guests Dr. Heather Starmer (Alliance board member), a speech and language pathologist at Stanford University, and Dr. Michael Moore (Alliance board member), a head and neck cancer surgeon at Indiana University explore the topic of head and neck cancer survivorship.
- ARTICLE: The Lies We Tell
Even with the best intentions, caregivers can’t do it all—despite what they might tell themselves.
- ARTICLE: Smart Food Choices for Cancer Survivors
A healthy lifestyle can improve your quality of life and optimize survivorship. The foods you choose to eat, or are able to eat, are key parts of your lifestyle. Making smart food choices can help keep you strong during treatment, reduce the risk of your cancer coming back, and lower your risk of other diseases. - NEWS: Researchers target HPV-linked cancers with new immunotherapy grant
Scientists at Michigan State University and Henry Ford Health have launched a new research effort to take on a fast-growing and hard-to-treat form of cancer, and they’re starting with a $3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. |
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| FEATURED POSTS FROM OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS |
| Our work would not be possible without our sponsors and partners. Please see below to learn more about our partners and the clinical trials that are underway to help head and neck cancer patients. For more information about clinical trials and where to find trials that might apply to you or a loved one, visit our Clinical Trial Finder or click on any of the trial opportunities below. Featured Clinical trials are meant to provide educational information about trials and not endorse any particular trial. |
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| | | | REVIEW US ON GOOGLE!
If our programs and materials have made a difference to you, please consider reviewing us on Google.
Your review will help make us more visible so other patients, survivors, and caregivers can easily find us while searching online!
To write a review, you'll need to sign up for a free Gmail account. |
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| | PICTURE THIS!
We're looking for pictures of real people to use on our website, brochures, and social media. We don't want to use boring stock photos! Your photos could provide hope and inspiration to others going through head and neck cancer!
If we use your photo on our website or a print project, we'll send you some Alliance "swag" and provide photo credit on our website and social media. |
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| DO YOU FOLLOW? Are you following us on social media? It's just one more way to keep up to date with what is going on with us as well as other head and neck cancer related news and opportunities. So pick your favorite platform and give us a follow!
Facebook | Twitter* | LinkedIn | Instagram
*also known as X
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| | *Statement on Sponsor Content and Corporate Support: The information published on this website and in our materials is intended to educate you about Oral, Head and Neck Cancer. The content is not intended to take the place of a discussion with a qualified physician who is familiar with your medical situation. It is important to remember that each individual is different, and the reasons for—and outcomes of—any treatment plan depends on the patient's individual condition. If you have questions or concerns after reading any information on this website or in our materials, you should discuss them openly and honestly with your physician. Any products and manufacturers included on this site are presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by HNCA. The content provided by HNCA is in no way intended to be a substitute for medical consultation with a qualified professional. HNCA encourages those using its resources to be careful when evaluating medical information or products. If you are unsure about your medical condition, consult a physician. Funding from our corporate partners supports HNCA’s programs and educational initiatives, and HNCA maintains independence in its design of programs, content, and initiatives. |
|  | | Be sure to add our email address to your address book or safe senders list so our emails get to your inbox. Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser |
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| Head & Neck Cancer Alliance
PO BOX 21688 | Charleston, South Carolina 29413
866-792-4622 | hello@headandneck.org |
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