At the 5th World Congress of the International Federation of Head & Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS), held in New York in 2014, Congress President and Professor of Head & Neck Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Jatin P. Shah, announced the establishment of Head&Neck Cancer Awareness Week, and did advocate for the 27th of July to be established as World Head And Neck Cancer Day.
A significant highlight of the meeting was the presence of actor Michael Douglas, who attended as a patient. Michael Douglas, having battled HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer, delivered a powerful speech that underscored the importance of awareness, cooperation, medical excellence and diffusion of knowledge to push forward Head&Neck Cancer treatment. In other interviews he recognized that his was a cancer linked to a sexually transmitted virus infection. His advocacy sparked a global wave of awareness about HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer.
Since then, substantial progress has been made in understanding HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer. Patients now often have promising outcomes with treatments that minimize morbidity, particularly those involving surgical interventions, where Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) has a pivotal role.
However, it is crucial to remember that Head&Neck Cancer encompasses a broader spectrum of diseases, including for example Laryngeal Cancer, where rehabilitation and attention to quality of life is paramount. Therefore, our commitment to continuous daily efforts and ongoing research remains essential in the fight against all forms of Head&Neck Cancer.
J Granell. July 27th, 2024
PD. Michael Douglas was possibly one of so many patients over-treated for HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer. Would he have been considered stage IV today? Learn about de-escalation.
Some links:
- https://x.com/SEORLCCC/status/1817160505074893143
- https://x.com/consejologopeda/status/1817108040585281844
- https://x.com/GenesisCareES/status/1817115206255796284
- https://x.com/ttccgroup/status/1420090034796040194
- https://x.com/_SEOM/status/1552248565363261440
- https://x.com/ContraCancerMUR/status/1552196888048582656
- https://x.com/MSKCancerCenter/status/890634156639526914