FEATURED IN NOVEMBER 2023

HNCA Board Member and Ambassador Jason Mendelsohn joined a group of mission partners at the White House yesterday, meeting with President Biden’s National Cancer Moonshot Initiative Team.  The discussions are part of a national initiative to eliminate HPV-related cancers in the U.S. through increased adoption of vaccination, screening, and treatment.  

Mendelsohn and other organizational representatives then traveled to the US Capitol to meet with policymakers, focusing on legislation such as the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act and other policies that could help achieve the elimination goal. 

The PREVENT HPV Cancers Act is bi-partisan and is sponsored by Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL), Julia Letlow (R-LA), and Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA). Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is sponsoring the Act in the Senate, and mission partners are helping to identify a Republican co-sponsor for bi-partisan support in the Senate. The bill would create a national awareness campaign.   Read more here.

Many thanks to the HPV Cancers Alliance – in collaboration with Moffitt Cancer Center  – for establishing this Day of Advocacy in Washington, DC. on November 15.  

The HPV Cancers Alliance's Day of Advocacy is led by acclaimed actress Marcia Cross, co-founder of the HPV Cancers Alliance, including survivors of HPV-related cancers and representatives of NCI-designated cancer centers and international advocacy organizations.  

Congratulations to Head and Neck Cancer Alliance Ambassador Hank Deneski, the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Service Award.

The award is given in recognition of his decades of unwavering dedication to the Alliance, its programs, and his ongoing support and mentoring of head and neck cancer patients and survivors.

Hank is an 18-year survivor of stage IV inoperable squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the tongue. He is a motivational speaker and trainer and is the Founder of Western Ohio Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Support Programs.

Find out more about Hank and why he was chosen as this year's recipient of the Distinguished Service - click the button below.

*Pictured are HNCA Board President Dr. Michael Moore and Hank Deneski

The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) is conducting a patient survey to help understand some of the key challenges faced by head and neck cancer patients. The information shared will help develop solutions that cancer care programs nationwide can use to advance the support and resources patients and their loved ones receive.

The goal is to make sure all patients who are diagnosed with head and neck cancer and the people who care for them receive comprehensive care that considers physical, mental, and social well-being.

Be a part of this important initiative by completing the survey. It should only take about 15-20 minutes. Be one of the first 100 responders, and you will receive a $50 gift card to thank you for participating.

This project is conducted in partnership with Head and Neck Cancer Alliance and is made possible by support from EMD Serono.

MEET OUR AMBASSADORS:
KRISTI MASON
Mother, wife, and caregiver; Caregiver to Husband, Stage III Throat Cancer Patient; Derry, NH

Kristi never considered herself a caregiver until her husband, Andy, was diagnosed with HPV-related head and neck cancer, when she was thrust into a world she wasn’t prepared for.

During her husband’s cancer journey, Kristi poured through research, spending countless hours on the Internet. She was surprised by the lack of information on HPV-related head and neck cancer. Beyond that, Kristi was disheartened with the type of guidance and support available to caregivers, beyond preparing for the end of life.

After going through this alongside her husband, Kristi strongly advocates for early detection, which she believes could have prevented Andy from such intensive treatments and the many long-lasting side effects. In the 2 years leading up to Andy’s diagnosis, he went to three different dentists.

Kristi believes dentists can be a resource for early detection by conducting a thorough mouth, jaw, and throat examination upon every visit. “While the dentists couldn’t have prevented cancer, they possibly could have been a great resource for early detection. This could have saved my husband from going through such grueling treatments,” said Kristi.