|  | | - Move with us in April - Move-A-Thon & Awareness Month
- Webinars - video links and upcoming
- Learn about precision medicine
- New blog posts
- Meet our Ambassadors - Maiko Takahashi Huang
- Share your survivor story
- News & Shorts - articles, podcasts, and more
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| AWARENESS MONTH & MOVE-A-THON 2026 |
|  | MOVE WITH US! April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, which makes this the perfect time to join the Move-A-Thon. Whether you sign up on your own or with a team, you can move your way and make it fun. Walk, run, ride, dance, or do whatever gets you moving. Every mile helps raise awareness, celebrate survivors, and honor those we’ve lost. It’s an easy way to take part, show support, and join others across the country all month long. |
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ITEMS OF NOTE: - Get your swag - we have sweatshirts and t-shirts available for sale (a variety of colors and sizes)
- New this year! Yard signs. Show your support for Awareness Month or the Move-A-Thon. Please note that shipping will almost double the price. We have made these design files available online if you would like to contact a local printer to make them for you. It would be significantly more affordable.
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| | | WHY ARE YOU PARTICIPATING IN THE MOVE-A-THON? Hi friends - I'm excited to have found this community and am looking forward to Move-A-Thon next month. In June of 2023, I lost my Mom to this horrible disease. She was my rock, best friend and favorite person in the entire world. I'm so inspired by everyone in this group who has shared their story, and I'm ready to join y'all in a month of movement in honor of my Mom and others who have been taken by H&N cancer. Every minute and every dollar matters! - Lauren L. Pictured is Lauren L. with her mom. |
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| | | | | MISSED IT? MARCH WEBINAR VIDEO AVAILABLE. This webinar highlighted the powerful role of physical activity in potentially improving cancer outcomes and offered practical strategies and guidance for patients, survivors, and caregivers. The session featured insights from a physical therapist along with two active head and neck cancer survivors. |
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SAVE THE DATE - JUNE 1, 7-8 PM ET The First Year of HNC: Guidance, Support, and What Lies Ahead A new diagnosis of head and neck cancer can feel overwhelming. Patients and families often face complex decisions, new terminology, and major physical and emotional changes. This webinar offers clear guidance during this early stage. Join medical experts, a survivor, and a caregiver as they cover what to expect after diagnosis, including treatment planning, side effects, nutrition, speech, and emotional support. You will leave with practical information and a better sense of what comes next. |
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| | Precision medicine is changing how head and neck cancer is treated by focusing on the unique biology of each person’s tumor. By analyzing biomarkers and genetic changes, care teams can make more informed treatment decisions and better match patients with therapies that are more likely to be effective. Check out our page that explains what precision medicine means for patients and caregivers, including how it can guide treatment planning and access to clinical trials. It provides a clear starting point for understanding how care is becoming more personalized. If you'd like more information, our friends at Lungevity are hosting a free webinar as part of a global, three-part pan-cancer series focused on biomarker testing. The first session will introduce the basics of biomarker (molecular) testing, why it matters across cancer types, and how it can help guide treatment decisions. Led by clinical and patient experts, the 30-minute session is designed to provide clear, practical information for patients, caregivers, and care teams. |
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| | |  | A Survivor's Sobriety Journey We shared this in last month’s newsletter, but are including it again in case you missed it. A head and neck cancer survivor reflects on their long-term sobriety and how it shaped their experience during diagnosis and treatment, along with the role of support systems in recovery. |
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 | A Simple Blood Test Could Cut NPC Deaths in Half! A simple blood test could help detect nasopharyngeal cancer earlier by identifying markers linked to the Epstein-Barr virus, which is strongly associated with this disease. Because symptoms are often vague and diagnosis happens late, this type of screening has the potential to catch cancer sooner and improve survival rates |
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| | Maiko Takahashi Huang Professional Designer | Survivor of Tongue Cancer |
| | Maiko Takahashi Huang is a designer and head and neck cancer survivor based in Los Gatos, California. Her experience with cancer, along with significant personal loss, has shaped her perspective and strengthened her commitment to advocacy and awareness. She brings both a creative background and a deeply personal understanding of the patient experience to her role as an Ambassador. After her own cancer journey, Maiko faced another life-altering event when her husband passed away unexpectedly from an aortic dissection that was initially misdiagnosed. That experience reinforced her belief in the importance of early detection, listening to your body, and advocating for yourself within the healthcare system. Through sharing her story, she aims to help others feel less isolated, raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of serious conditions, and encourage patients and caregivers to be informed, proactive participants in their care. |
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| SHARE YOUR SURVIVOR STORIES |
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| One thing we often hear survivors say is that they felt so alone when they were going through treatment, and hearing about other survivors' experiences is helpful and healing. We'd like you to share your story with us. Whether you're in treatment now, a long-term survivor, a caregiver, or part of a care team, your story can make an impact. -
Help others feel less alone by sharing your story -
Provide practical insight, hope, and connection through your experience -
Build a stronger community by showing the real faces and voices behind this disease -
Support others as they navigate their own paths by actively sharing and engaging We’ll do our best to feature as many of your stories on our blog as possible. Find out more and submit your story below. |
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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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| Alliance board member and ambassador Jason Mendelsohn can add "Tedx Talk presenter" to his long list of accomplishments. Since beating cancer, Jason has shared his story publicly to help educate parents about HPV, the HPV vaccine, HPV-related cancers, and the importance of head and neck cancer screenings. He was selected from hundreds of applicants to give a "talk" at TEDxOrlando. He’ll be discussing the stigma, shame, and silence around HPV-related cancer diagnoses, which must be eliminated so people feel empowered to seek medical attention sooner, improve outcomes, and know they are never alone. The talk doesn't happen until October, and we'll let you know how to watch later! Big congrats to Jason! |
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| | | | | SURVIVOR STORY Ambassador Jeff White also attended the 2026 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium, where he shared his story. |
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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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| | | | | 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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| | | | 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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| *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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