You Are Making a Difference for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Advancements in research are improving quality of life for head and neck cancer patients.

While treatment for head and neck cancer patients saves their lives, it may also cause serious damage to the affected area. Removing tumors in the mouth, throat, voice box, nasal cavity, or salivary glands, can cause a patient to lose his ability to speak, swallow, eat, or breathe, vastly impacting his quality of life even after the cancer is gone. Daily therapy can help improve the swallowing function—up to an 80 per cent success rate—but having to travel when patients may not be physically strong is costly and interrupting all aspects of their lives is difficult. A research team out of the Institute for Reconstructive Sciences in Medicine (iRSM) is hoping to change that, thanks to the support of Alberta Cancer Foundation donors.
Make life better for Albertans facing cancer. Donate today.