The Swallows Head & Neck Cancer Support Charity is a small but highly effective charity, dedicated to supporting all individuals affected by head and neck cancers, including patients, carers, friends, and relatives. They aim to provide this assistance on a 24/7 basis.

In support of their valuable work, The Suzanne Vandervell Research Award has been created to recognise and promote the contribution of young researchers, committed to improving outcomes for patients living with and beyond head & neck cancer.

These cancers are especially impactful upon the lives of sufferers, because so many critical functions associated with eating, swallowing, taste, salivary function, shoulder, jaw and neck movement are affected by the treatments commonly used. In most cases, this will be a combination of radiotherapy & chemo therapy, surgery and possibly immunotherapy. The impact of treatment on sensitive oral and throat tissues is severe and often life changing. Even after recovery, late-onset effects can arise years afterwards. The Swallows are there to support people at all stages.

Suzanne’s Story

I have good reason to be appreciative of the amazing support of the dedicated Swallows team and the Patient Support network.

My history of head and neck cancer has been a long one, starting in April 2010 when, in my mid-forties, I was diagnosed with stage 3 tonsil cancer HPV16, with right cervical lymph node involvement. Despite being life changing, I was determined not let cancer get in the way of enjoying life. I recovered well but in 2017, had a massive shock following diagnosis with a non-operable metastasis in the nasopharyngeal space. I had no options, other than taking the very high risk of further radical radiation and chemo, which is not within normal treatment protocols. Although it eliminated the tumour, it left me with continuing severe after effects, including oral soft tissue damage, reduced jaw opening, impaired salivary and swallow function, plus many other late-onset consequences of radiation toxicity.

The cancer reached incurable stage in 2020 and over the following years I had four further local metastases, two of which have been treated with good response to immunotherapy. However, this persistent cancer remains incurable so in 2024, I made the difficult decision not to have further treatment in order to maintain a modicum of life quality.

The importance of smaller charities like the Swallows is vital, especially with NHS cancer services under so much pressure. To achieve this goal, we are raising funds for this new annual Research Award, which was officially launched at the International Conference of the Swallows in November 2025.

With a target of £7,000, your generous contributions will directly help the mission of the Swallows to support a broad spectrum of head and neck cancer patients, as well as expanding the annual Research Award in future years.