At the September meeting of the Victorian Head and Neck Cancer Support Group, 21 members gathered, including four new faces. We had the privilege of hearing from two distinguished speakers in the field of cancer care. Jacque Frowen, a speech pathologist from Peter Mac, shared insightful updates on her ongoing research focused on managing the long-term side effects of head and neck cancer treatments. These side effects include dry mouth, trismus, mouth sores, lymphedema, and dental issues—challenges that many survivors continue to face after treatment. Jacque also noted that advances in radiotherapy have made treatments more targeted, which is helping to reduce the severity of these side effects. Encouragingly, she emphasized that many individuals find a new “normal” that allows them to lead fulfilling and happy lives post-treatment.
In addition to Jacque’s talk, we were joined by special guest Justin Roe from The Royal Marsden Hospital in London, who brought an international perspective to the discussion. Justin’s involvement highlighted the importance of collaboration in improving care for head and neck cancer patients. His insights further enriched the group’s understanding of advancements in treatment and survivorship.
We concluded the meeting with a member only discussion. Members also shared ideas on what to expect during treatment, including how long fatigue and taste changes may last, creating a supportive and informative space. We look forward to continuing the conversation at our October meeting!
Would like to see links to video's of these meetings or transcripts of guest speakers so we can take advantage of any additional knowledge shared.
thanks
John