|  | | - November Webinar - alternative therapies
- Survivorship Symposium recap
- Program Spotlight - Ambassadors
- Meet our Ambassadors - this month, Melvin LaBlanc (aka Abdul Malik)
- Board of Directors update
- Good News Corner - share your good news with us!
- News & Shorts - articles, podcasts, and more
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| NOVEMBER 4th WEBINAR - REGISTRATION NOW OPEN |
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| EXPANDING OPTIONS: ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES FOR HNC PATIENTS
Join us for an informative and empowering webinar focused on alternative therapies for individuals affected by HNC. This session will explore complementary approaches that support healing, improve quality of life, and manage side effects. Our expert panel will discuss therapies such as acupuncture, nutrition, mindfulness, and physical rehabilitation, including their benefits, limitations, and how they can be safely integrated with conventional cancer care. Attendees will also hear from survivors who have incorporated these therapies into their own recovery journeys. |
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| 2025 LA SURVIVORSHIP SYMPOSIUM RECAP |
| Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2025 Los Angeles Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Symposium a success. We’re grateful to our sponsors, volunteers, and speakers for their time, energy, and support. This year’s event drew more than 650 virtual participants and over 300 in-person attendees (our largest symposium yet). We enjoyed good company, good presentations, and good food! Those who participated in the pre-event LA bus tour reported that they had an amazing time, and we hope to offer similar tours in the future. We’ll be sharing session videos in the next few weeks by email, and professional event photos will also be available soon for download. A few Symposium T-shirts are still available for $20 (including shipping) so grab one before they’re gone (we only have sizes XL and one size 3XL left). Email us if you'd like to buy one. The shirts are pictured below. Mark your calendar for next year: the 2026 Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Symposium will take place on July 18 in Boston. |
| | | What others are saying:
I want to just say a personal THANK YOU for the symposium. I haven’t been in a great headspace the last few weeks, the return of my little dogs cancer kicked me into a bit of a negative spiral. I was planning on coming in person to today’s event, but her treatment derailed that. HOWEVER, even virtually, today was SOOOOO soo inspiring. I just feel re-centered...Thank you so much for all your hard work daily, and especially for I know what must be a huge task of bringing this event to life. |
| | After attending virtually the past two years, I was thrilled to be able to attend in person this year due to the west coast location. I didn't expect to become overcome with emotion when I walked in the door, but I was because I knew I would meet scores of fellow survivors who understood what I've been through. It meant so much to me. It took me a few seconds before I gathered myself and was able to state my name at the registration desk. And I'm glad I had a chance to meet some of the HNCA staff so I could express my interest in becoming an ambassador in person. Plus, the exhibitors were useful. Loved seeing Imerman Angels! And finishing with the Sound Bath was sensational. I glided out of the building after that session. |
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| | | FEATURED PROGRAM - AMBASSADORS |
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| Join Our Ambassador Family and Share Your Story, Inspire Hope Being a Head and Neck Cancer Alliance Ambassador means using your story to make a difference. Many survivors tell us they felt alone or misunderstood until they heard from someone who’d been there. Our ambassadors help educate sponsors, healthcare providers, and the public about head and neck cancer. When you share your journey, you remind others that behind every diagnosis is a real person. Why it matters -
You give hope and connection to those still struggling. -
You help people understand the real impact of this disease. -
Your story helps attract more awareness, funding, and advocacy for patients and caregivers. Why it’s good for you -
You join a community that truly understands. -
You use your experience to help others heal. -
You decide how much time to give — it’s flexible and easy to fit in. Your story matters
Even one conversation, quote, or appearance can change lives. Ambassadors bring the heart behind our mission, showing survivors they’re not alone and helping others see why this cause matters. |
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| | | Melvin LaBlanc (aka Abdul Malik) Husband, Father, Global HSSE Learning Advisor at Shell Oil Company | Survivor of HPV-attributed Neck & Tongue Cancer |
| | Melvin's life changed forever in May 2018. After months of uncertainty, he was diagnosed with HPV-related squamous cell carcinoma, a tumor at the base of his tongue that had spread to his neck. He began combined chemotherapy and radiation on June 13, 2018. During treatment, he faced severe side effects, including skin damage, difficulty swallowing, and significant weight loss that required a feeding tube. After six weeks of treatment and a difficult recovery, Melvin rang the bell on July 25, 2018. By September, he had weaned off the feeding tube and slowly regained his ability to eat and taste food again. In follow-ups through 2020, imaging showed no evidence of recurrence. His neck mass continued to shrink, and his follow-up visits moved from every few months to every six months. Today, Melvin channels his recovery into living a fully engaged life. He plays pickleball competitively, winning regional titles and preparing for national events. The stand that once held his feeding tube now displays a lamp with his medals—a daily reminder of his strength and hope. Melvin shares his experience to inspire others and give back through the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance. His journey is a powerful example of resilience, faith, and the life that’s possible after cancer. |
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| MEET OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS |
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| Welcome Dr. Bill Lydiatt!
Dr. Lydiatt is Chair of the Department of Surgery and Clinical Professor at Creighton University and the U.S. Naval Hospital. He practices at Nebraska Methodist Hospital.
A Stanford biology graduate, he earned his MD and completed residency at the University of Nebraska, followed by a fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and an EMBA from the University of Colorado.
His expertise includes endocrine surgery, oral cavity cancer, salivary gland tumors, and prevention of depression in head and neck cancer patients. Dr. Lydiatt is a past president of the AHNS, vice-chair of the 8th Edition AJCC Head and Neck Staging Committee, and author of more than 130 publications and book chapters. |
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| | Welcome Dr. Mark McDonald!
Dr. McDonald is a board-certified radiation oncologist specializing in head and neck cancers and skull base tumors.
He is a Professor of Radiation Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine and Medical Director of the Emory Proton Therapy Center, one of the nation’s largest proton facilities. He also serves on the steering committee for the multidisciplinary head and neck cancer program at Winship Cancer Institute and is a two-time “Educator of the Year” honoree.
His research centers on clinical outcomes of radiation technologies, focusing on tumor control, failure patterns, and treatment-related toxicities. |
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| | Thank you for your service, Dr. Sue Yom (outgoing board member) Dr. Sue S. Yom, MD, PhD, MAS, FASTRO, is the Irwin Mark Jacobs and Joan Klein Jacobs Distinguished Professor in Head and Neck Cancer Radiation Oncology and Professor of Radiation Oncology and Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. She earned her MD and PhD in English from the University of Pennsylvania and completed her Radiation Oncology residency at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Since joining the University of California School of Medicine in 2007, she has also earned a Master’s in Clinical Research. Dr. Yom’s clinical and academic focus includes head and neck, skin, and thoracic cancers. |
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| | | Pictured above is our board president, Dr. Mike Moore, with colleagues, during a two-week teaching trip to Malindi, Kenya. The team of 32 volunteers (including five surgeons, anesthesiologists, and support staff) from Indiana University, Vanderbilt, Ohio State, UC Davis, and other programs partnered with local physicians to provide care for patients and advance head and neck surgery training. |
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| | CONGRATULATIONS TO EILEEN SEXTON We’re proud to share that our Director of Programs, Eileen Sexton, has been appointed Chair of the Friends of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. This role also includes serving as the Patient Advocate Representative on the board of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research. Eileen will help lead advocacy efforts that unite more than 40 nonprofit organizations working to support oral health research and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, and to advance discoveries from the lab to patient care. Her three-year term began in August 2025, and we know she’ll bring her passion and expertise to strengthen this important national coalition. Please join us in congratulating Eileen on this well-deserved appointment. |
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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: [email protected] |
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| | | 📣 HEADS UP: Our friends at The Rare Cancer Research Foundation are hosting a free webinar. Join them as they speak with Cody Barnett, Patient Advocacy Specialist with Illumina Inc., about the facts surrounding genomic sequencing and the empowerment it can provide for rare cancer patients and their providers to seek new, innovative treatment options.
REGISTER HERE |
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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! |
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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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