There are presently more than 500,000 survivors of oral and head and neck cancer living in the United States today. In addition, 58,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with this disease this year.  Not only can a diagnosis of oral and head and neck cancer be life-threatening, but many patients as a result of the disease and its treatment, must also endure alterations in facial and neck appearance as well as alterations in speech, sight, smell, chewing, swallowing and taste perception. Whereas other types of cancer can be hidden by clothing, cancer of the head and neck cannot. Many people suffering from oral and head and neck cancer and the side effects of treatment may find it difficult to return to their previous jobs and/or "normal" daily living. Coping with this type of cancer can be extremely difficult.

On September 10, 1991, eight oral and head and neck cancer survivors met to share their experiences, offering hope and encouragement to one another.  From this core of individuals, struggling with their diagnosis and searching for ways to cope with their disease, emerged Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer, Inc. (SPOHNC). Today, SPOHNC is recognized by the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute and many medical centers and healthcare professionals as an organization dedicated to meeting the needs of oral and head and neck cancer patients.

When SPOHNC was founded in 1991, there were very few support groups specifically for oral and head and neck cancer patients in the United States. That number did not increase significantly during the interceding years until late September of 2000. Since then there has been increasing interest in developing local chapters of SPOHNC. Consequently, SPOHNC has been assisting with the development of local chapters nationwide in addition to the established chapters of SPOHNC-LONG ISLAND, NY and SPOHNC-ATLANTA, GA. Through this growing network of local chapters, SPOHNC hopes to provide information, support, and encouragement to a greater number of individuals empowering each to become an educated consumer of the best medical care available.

HEAD AND NECK CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS IN
THE UNITED STATES

 

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Revised: September 9, 2008

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