THE PROBLEM

Too many people don’t recognise the warning signs of throat cancer — and that means too many people are diagnosed late, when treatment is tougher and outcomes are worse.

UK-wide, around 59% of head and neck cancers (where stage is recorded) are diagnosed at stage III or IV.

In England specifically, the late-stage figure (stage 3 and 4) for 2013–2020 pooled is 53.1%.

(Throat cancers sit within “head and neck cancers”, which is why the best UK staging data is reported that way.)

WHAT WE’RE DOING

This campaign exists for one reason: make the symptoms recognisable — so more people act earlier.

We turn donations into practical, plain-English awareness that can be shared quickly, remembered easily, and acted on confidently.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Most of these symptoms have innocent causes — but if they persist, don’t ignore them:

* A sore throat that doesn’t go away

* Difficulty or pain swallowing

* Voice changes / hoarseness

* A persistent cough

* A lump or swelling in the neck

* Ear pain that doesn’t improve

If in doubt, get checked out.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Early diagnosis can change everything. For example, stage 1 laryngeal cancer has almost 90% five-year survival.

That’s the difference awareness can make: noticing a symptom, acting on it, and being taken seriously sooner.

WHAT YOUR DONATION FUNDS

Your support helps us deliver awareness that people can actually use, including:

Symptom guides, posters and shareable resources

Clinically informed content that points people to the right next step

Distribution into NHS and community settings so this reaches beyond “people who already know”

Support and signposting for patients and families navigating diagnosis and treatment

THE SIMPLEST WAY TO HELP

- Donate (and add Gift Aid if you can — it’s free money for the charity).

- Share this page to 5 people — it genuinely helps.

- Start a fundraising page — small personal fundraisers are what power campaigns like this.

Thank you for backing earlier diagnosis and protecting voices.

#BeThroatCancerAware