The Head and Neck Cancer Foundation are an independent charity founded by doctors and devoted to driving awareness for, and the adoption of, groundbreaking head and neck cancer treatment. They aim to minimise the magnitude of surgery and limit the resulting aesthetical impacts, on head and neck cancer patients. Treatment for head and neck cancers is still largely based on invasive surgery. This can leave patients with facial scars and have life-changing impact on the vital functions such as breathing, swallowing and speech.

In 2017 my dad was diagnosed with cancer in his tonsil. He was a young, fit, healthy man who was a non-smoker. Until then I knew very little about this type of cancer but now know that his was caused by a strain of the HPV virus.

Dad had to undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments which unfortunately were unsuccessful. In order to try to remove the cancer, my Dad then underwent an extensive, ten hour operation which removed tissue from his throat, cheek and tongue and was replaced with tissue from his leg. This left him unable to eat and speak for months and reliant on a tracheotomy to breathe. Although he is recovering well, he continues to experience the effects of this life changing surgery such a scarring, difficulty eating and swallowing, and with his speech.

The Head and Neck Cancer Foundation recieve absolutely no statutory funding and so rely completely on fundraising to continue the work they do. Therefore I ask you donate what you can to this worthy cause to raise awareness of these types of cancer and to help others diagnosed with head and neck cancer receive ground breaking treatments.

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