|  | FEATURED IN FEBRUARY 2026 |
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| - Coming soon - don't miss out!
- March webinar - Exercise is Medicine: Moving Through Cancer
- Program/service spotlight - Awareness & Screening Program
- New blog posts
- Meet our Ambassadors - Carla Burkley, MD
- Good News Corner - share your good news with us!
- News & Shorts - articles, podcasts, and more
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| | DON'T MISS OUT ON TWO OF OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS/EVENTS!
- Join our Move-A-Thon and move with us in April during Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Month. Start a team, or join on your own and raise awareness and funds with us!
- Save the date for our 6th Annual Survivorship Symposium. We're headed to Boston and hope to see you on July 18. This event is free to attend (registration coming soon), and if you can't make it to Boston, you can watch virtually.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP PROMOTE THESE EVENTS? We have a double-sided rack card available to help you spread the word. One side features the Symposium save-the-date. The other highlights our Move-A-Thon. Email us your shipping address and the quantity you need. Rack cards are available in sets of 50. |
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| MARCH WEBINAR - REGISTRATION NOW OPEN |
| | EXERCISE IS MEDICINE - MOVING THROUGH CANCER March 11 | 7-8:30 PM
Join us for a special combined session featuring the Exercise Is Medicine – Moving Through Cancer webinar, followed immediately by the official Move-A-Thon kick-off. This webinar will highlight the powerful role of physical activity in potentially improving cancer outcomes and will offer practical strategies and guidance for patients, survivors, and caregivers. The session will feature insights from a physical therapist along with two active head and neck cancer survivors. Following the webinar, the Alliance Move-A-Thon Kick-off will introduce this year’s initiative and inspire participants to get moving! |
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| | | ABOUT THE SCREENING PROGRAM
Each year, we partner with medical and dental clinics across the country to provide free head and neck cancer screenings in local communities. These quick, non-invasive exams help identify possible signs and symptoms early, when treatment is often more effective. In addition to the screening itself, participants receive education about risk factors, symptoms, and the importance of early detection. Most events take place in April during Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, but screenings can be hosted at any time of year. FAQs What happens during a screening?
A healthcare professional performs a brief visual and physical examination of the head and neck. The exam is painless and typically takes only a few minutes. How can a clinic host a screening, and what does it cost?
Clinics that register their event with the Alliance will receive promotional materials, educational resources, volunteer/staff t-shirts, and more. You provide the staff and handle logistics. Just fill out the form linked on our website below.
What if I need more than 3 shirts for my event, or need more sizing options?
Additional shirts can be purchased from our print-on-demand store here. Shirts are available in sizes S-5XL. Please note that these shirts are not limited to use at a screening event. The general public is welcome to purchase one (or any of the other shirts currently available).
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| | |  | Cannabis and Head and Neck Cancer:
What Do We Know? Many people affected by head and neck cancer have questions about cannabis. Can it help with pain, nausea, sleep, or anxiety during treatment? Could it affect cancer risk? The research is still developing, and the answers are not simple. Studies show mixed results, especially when factors like smoking, alcohol use, and frequency of use are involved. In this blog post, we review what current evidence suggests and where uncertainty remains so you can make informed decisions and talk with your care team. |
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 | Why Movement Matters After Head and Neck Cancer Movement isn’t just about fitness after head and neck cancer. It can help reduce fatigue, improve mood, support strength, and aid recovery. But many survivors aren’t sure where to start or how much is safe. This blog breaks down practical ways to stay active, why it matters for your health, and how to build movement into your routine in a way that fits your needs. |
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| | Carla Burkley, MD Physician, Coastal Women’s Healthcare | Survivor of HPV+ Tonsil Cancer |
| | Carla Burkley is an OB/GYN physician from Falmouth, Maine, who spent her career caring for others, only to find herself on the other side of a frightening diagnosis. In June 2024, at what felt like a major turning point in her professional life, Carla was diagnosed with HPV+ tonsillar cancer. The irony wasn't lost on her: despite years of treating HPV-related disease in her own patients, she was caught completely off guard by how little she knew about HPV's connection to head and neck cancer. What followed was a crash course in being a patient. Carla navigated the challenge of securing timely local care, made the difficult decision to seek treatment out of state, and faced months of intensive concurrent radiation and chemotherapy. Her story is full of candid moments that will resonate with anyone who has ever minimized their own symptoms or leaned hard on the people they love just to get through each day. But Carla's story doesn't end at remission. Survivorship brought its own unexpected demands that were physical, emotional, and deeply personal. Read her full story to find out how cancer became the catalyst for a transformation she never saw coming. |
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| | | SHARE YOUR GOOD NEWS! We want to celebrate the wins in our community, big or small. Finished treatment, joined an awareness event, welcomed a grandchild, or reached a personal milestone? We’d love to share your good news. This is open to patients, survivors, caregivers, and medical professionals. Email your story and a photo, and tell us what you’re celebrating. By submitting, you give us permission to share it in our newsletter or on social media. We can’t publish every submission. Send your good news to [email protected]. |
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| | 34 YEARS - NO BEERS!
Submitted/written by Alliance Ambassador Laurie Traynor
So many of us living with Head and Neck Cancer carry far more than the physical weight of treatments, surgeries, and long-term side effects. We also shoulder emotional and mental challenges—some we can name, and others we only begin to understand as we heal. I am seventy-two years old, a four-time cancer survivor, and a proud Alliance Ambassador. I also live with a mental health disease that requires both daily rigorous honesty and action. I am a recovering alcoholic. This month, I celebrate thirty-four years of continuous sobriety—one day at a time. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a disease oftentimes described by words such as cunning and baffling. It is still the only disease that convinces its victim that nothing is wrong and no problem exists. Over the years, through countless conversations with others, I’ve learned a simple truth: if you think you have a problem with alcohol, you probably do. My own journey has taught me so many powerful life lessons. I stay healthy—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—by staying connected, showing up for others, and sharing openly. The resulting paradox is truly magnificent: to keep what I have, I must give it away. And what I have to give away is experience, strength, and hope. If you ever need support, or simply want someone to talk to someone who understands, call (1-866-792-4622) or email the Alliance and they will pass along your message to me. Thank you in advance for helping ME stay sober for one more day. |
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| |  | | Alliance Board Member, Alessandro Villa, DDS, PhD, MPH, recently spoke at a major international dental conference in Dubai as part of the oral medicine program. The presentation focused on preventing HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer and highlighted the important role dental professionals play in early detection and cancer prevention. |
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| | Join our friends at THANC on March 19, 2026, at 12 Noon ET for a patient-focused webinar designed to bring clarity to clinical trials. Host Genevieve Lowry is joined by Dr. Lori Wirth and a small panel of patients who have explored clinical trials for an open, accessible discussion about what clinical trials are, how they fit into cancer care and what patients should consider when deciding whether to participate. Through expert insight and real-world perspective, this session helps patients feel more informed, confident and supported as they navigate their care options. Register here 👉 https://thanc.me/march2026 |
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| |  | HPV and Building Community Webinar Last month, our Executive Director, Amanda Hollinger, spoke on a webinar panel titled: Building Community Around HPV Prevention and
Related Disease Management. The event was presented by American Medical Women’s Association and Global Initiative Against HPV and Cervical Cancer. You can watch it by clicking here. |
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| MONTHLY GIVING - DONATE TODAY Start the year with hope. Monthly giving provides steady, year-round support for people affected by head and neck cancer.
Your monthly recurring gift helps sustain - education
- survivorship resources
- patient support every month
With your support, we can continue to help individuals and families find help when they need it. Join our Monthly Giving Community today! |
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| | THANK YOU SPONSORS!
Corporate sponsors play a crucial role in the mission of the Alliance. Their support not only provides vital funding for our programs and services but also amplifies awareness of head and neck cancers. Together, we create hope, spread knowledge, and save lives. |
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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! |
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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 | [email protected] |
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