World Head and Neck Cancer Day - 27 July

Hi all, doing my bit to raise awareness for World Head and Neck Cancer Day – today!! 27 July. One of my oncologists describe the recent increase in the disease as “rampant” and worryingly starting to hit a younger demographic and it seems no one yet knows why. A common repeated stat puts it at a four-fold increase (385%) increase in young women aged in their 30’s and 40’s over the last 30 years.

Early detection is the key!!! I was incredibly lucky my wonderful wife made me go to the GP to see what that pesky little lump on my neck was that I had been ignoring for the last few months. Health care in Australia copes a lot of unhelpful criticism at times, but I fell into the arms of some incredible health professionals almost immediately, and who kept me there for many months while they did what they do best and do every day.

So, check out the graphic, symptoms and warning signs can be small and easily ignored. And when your wife, husband, partner tells you to go get it checked – get off your butt cheeks, make the appointment, go save your life.

A galaxy full of thank you’s still wouldn’t be enough for the health teams at Princess Alexandra Hospital and Greenslopes Hospital for their care and professionalism – and for putting up with me at my worst.

And a big shout out at to Glenn and Ash, and the whole team at Tractix for their continued support and complete flexibility leading up to, during and after my treatment.

If you are going through something similar in your own world, or supporting someone who is – feel free to reach out and let me know. Happy to have a digital coffee, or digital ‘mask off’?anytime!

Here’s my incredible wife continuing her own way of support during treatment and fronting up with her own mask for Friday “Mask Day”.

BTW - I'm all good now, had my second 3 month follow up last week and green light on everything. I just speek and liddle phunny dumtimes and dwibble a bitt :-)