|  | | - Survivorship Symposium - one-third of our in-person tickets are already reserved!
- Featured program - Head & Neck Cancer community forum
- Meet our Ambassadors - this month, Todd Landaburu
- 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.
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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| HNC ONLINE SUPPORT FORUM If you or someone you love is facing head and neck cancer, you deserve a place where people truly get it. That’s why we’ve partnered with Inspire to offer a free online support community just for patients, survivors, and caregivers. It’s a welcoming space to ask questions, share your story, and connect with others who’ve walked a similar path. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, in treatment, or adjusting to life after cancer, this community is here for you—day or night. It’s private, moderated, and filled with people who understand what you're going through. You’re not alone.
PS - our Inspire Head and Neck Cancer forum is where we periodically hold our Ask the Expert events.
The next Ask the Expert happens August 5 - 11. The topic is Thyroid Management (post-treatment), and the expert is Sapir Goldberg, MD (NYU). |
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| | Todd Landaburu Senior Growth Marketing Manager | Survivor of Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Floor of Mouth |
| | Todd Landaburu was diagnosed with Stage IV oral squamous cell carcinoma in 2022. He underwent a 10-hour surgery to remove cancer from his mouth and tongue, along with 32 lymph nodes, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. For nine months, he relied on a feeding tube as he adjusted to life after treatment. Support from a compassionate nurse helped him push through the toughest days. A year after treatment, Todd returned to thank her—and began sharing his experience to help others feel less alone. He now volunteers with several cancer organizations and speaks openly about the emotional toll of diagnosis and recovery. Today, Todd is healthy and active again. He works full-time, plays golf and soccer, and stays involved in cancer advocacy. As a Head and Neck Cancer Alliance Ambassador, he brings honesty, empathy, and hope to the community. |
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| | FEATURED ARTICLE - CANCER STOLE HER VOICE. CURSE WORDS, CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND AI SAVED IT. Recently, Alliance Ambassador Sonya Sotinsky was featured in an article that highlighted her cancer journey and a look at her life after a total glossectomy and laryngectomy.
Sonya is a designer, mom, vegan and a survivor of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (and she has one of the cutest dogs you'll see today).
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| | REMEMBERING BOB CANCALOSI |
| We are saddened to share the passing of Bob Cancalosi, a dedicated Head and Neck Cancer Alliance Ambassador who touched countless lives with his kindness, gratitude, and mentorship. Bob faced head and neck cancer with courage, using his journey to support and guide others, and reminding us all to find joy in each day. Beyond his advocacy, Bob was known for his generosity of spirit and his commitment to helping others, collecting a network of mentees around the world and offering wisdom and encouragement whenever it was needed. His resilience and compassion continue to inspire our community, showing that even in the face of cancer, hope and purpose can thrive. We invite you to take a moment to read about Bob’s incredible life, his many contributions, and the lasting impact he has left on the head and neck cancer community. |
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| | | | Dr. Maie St. John, Alliance Board Member and Chair of UCLA’s Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, was recently featured on The Voices of Otolaryngology podcast. She shared her path from childhood in Egypt to becoming a leading surgeon-scientist, developing technologies that are changing cancer surgery. The conversation covered her work in precision medicine, strategies for grant success, and her leadership in building top-ranked multidisciplinary care teams. She also offered insights on embracing opportunities, balancing research with clinical care, and her vision for AI in personalized treatment. NOTE: This podcast is intended for a medical professional audience. |
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| EMERGING SCIENCE WEBINAR SERIES: HPV INFECTION & EARLY CANCER DETECTION
Join our friends at the HPV Cancer Alliance for a free, virtual event exploring how different specialties are revolutionizing HPV prevention and early cancer detection!
The webinar will feature a dynamic panel of experts in gynecology, head and neck surgery, colorectal surgery, and primary care, sharing the latest research, early diagnostic tools, and innovative prevention strategies for HPV-associated cancers.
📅 Learn more and register |
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| | EXERCISE STUDY - YOUR HELP IS WANTED Our friends at Colorado State University invite those eligible to join an exercise study. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of a physical activity maintenance intervention following completion of a virtual exercise program, Fit Cancer, which is a 12-week exercise program held twice weekly on Zoom. The next study group starts in mid-August.
If you are interested and would like more information, please complete the questionnaire here: Spaaces Study |
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| | MISSION-READY: HPV & the Military
July 23, 2025 | 1–2 PM ET Military members and veterans are twice as likely as civilians to develop cancer-causing HPV infections. Join Team Maureen and Dr. Emily Penick, LTC, to learn why this matters and what we can do. Hear retired fighter pilot and HPV-related cancer survivor Bill Cason (he's also an Alliance Ambassador) share his story. Free CME/CNE available. Register here. |
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| | Boys, Men, & HPV Webinar
Alliance Ambassador Jason Mendelsohn recently joined a national expert panel hosted by the HPV Cancer Alliance to discuss innovative approaches to HPV-related cancer prevention and early detection. The free, virtual session brought together leaders in gynecology, head and neck surgery, primary care, and colorectal surgery to explore cross-specialty strategies and cutting-edge research. You can watch the full discussion online. |
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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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