Uniting Voices Across Europe to Show Support for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

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Uniting Voices Across Europe to Show Support for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

  • Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer, affecting over 600,000 people globally
  • Activities to raise awareness of signs and symptoms of this devastating disease are being held as part of the Third Global Annual Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week
  • Give your voice to support head and neck cancer patients by joining the conversation on social media #UnitingVoices

Brussels, Belgium: 21 September 2015 – The European Head and Neck Society (EHNS) and the Make Sense Campaign, today announced the launch of the Third Annual Head and Neck Cancer Awareness week (21–25 September). Through the pan-European Awareness Week, the EHNS and Make Sense Campaign promote education on head and neck cancer risk factors, disease prevention and disease signs and symptoms for both patients and healthcare professionals.

“Each year 350,000 people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer across Europe, and over half will not be alive after five years. However, if diagnosed and treated earlier, patients can have an 80 – 90% survival rate.” said Professor René Leemans, President of the EHNS and Professor and Chief of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at VU University Medical Centre. “Through the Make Sense Campaign we are educating people about the early signs of the disease and encouraging them to seek professional help in a timely manner. Additionally, we are advocating for the best possible standards of patient care so that their outcomes can be optimised once they have been diagnosed with the disease.”

This year, the campaign is focused on seeking excellence for patients. It will do this through a multi-stakeholder programme of activities with healthcare professionals and patient advocacy representatives through a variety of activities, including an exciting social media programme. Additionally, the campaign highlights the benefits of multi-disciplinary team (MDT) care in head and neck cancer. An MDT approach unites all aspects of patient care and has been shown to improve patient outcomes.

Giving a Voice to Patients – Uniting Voices

This year’s social media platform is called ‘Uniting Voices’ – which will spark much needed conversation about head and neck cancer. The goal is to use these channels to raise awareness, and empower head and neck cancer patients by giving them a sense of community and show they are not suffering alone.

You can join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #UnitingVoices, or visit our multi-language website www.makesensecampaign.eu for more information.

Early Diagnosis Days

Free ‘Early Diagnosis Days’ (where people can see a healthcare professional and receive a free head and neck cancer screening) are scheduled to take place on 23 September, at various locations across Europe.

Individuals are encouraged to visit one of the clinics for a free screening, especially if they have experienced ONE of the following symptoms for a duration of THREE weeks:

  • Sore tongue, non-healing mouth ulcers and/or red or white patches in the mouth
  • Pain in the throat
  • Persistent hoarseness
  • Pain and/or difficulty swallowing
  • Lump in the neck
  • Blocked nose on one side or blood discharge from the nose

For more information on the clinics involved, please visit: https://makesensecampaign.eu/awareness-week.

Additionally, ‘Youth Education Days’ will take place in schools and universities across Europe, communicating information about the disease and its symptoms to students and young adults, as part of a dedicated Young Adults Day on Thursday 24 September. The awareness week will conclude on Friday 25 September with a healthcare professional information day at the European Cancer Congress (ECC) conference in Vienna, where head and neck cancer experts will be available for media interview, and education campaign materials will be widely available.

How to get involved:

If you would like to get involved and help raise awareness of head and neck cancer, you can:

For more information, visit www.makesensecampaign.eu.

Media contacts

Sophie Ryan
+44 (0)7809 390 664
[email protected]

Karley Ura
+44 (0)20 3595 2415
[email protected]