About

Treating cancer is a team effort and it is important for patients to be involved in the process.  Thus, we created this app as an educational reference to guide you through the self-examination process for various head-and-neck cancers.  You will find a video of the entire self-examination as well as images and descriptions of various cancers.

Please remember this app is an educational resource and is not meant to diagnose.  Please consult with your physician if you have any questions.

• Head and Neck Cancer Statistics
  • 66,470 new head and neck cancers detected in the US this year
    • Reference: Cancer statistics, 2022
  • The survival rate of head and neck cancers detected early is 70-90%
    • Reference: Head and neck cancer
  • 1,192,307 new head and neck detected cancers globally per year
    • Reference: Global Cancer Statistics 2020
  • 50% expected increase in the number of new patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer in the United States between 2016-2029
    • Reference: Evolution of the Oropharynx Cancer Epidemic in the United States
• Head & Neck Cancer Alliance Mission
  • Our mission is to advance the prevention, detection, treatment, and rehabilitation of oral, head, and neck cancer through public awareness, research, advocacy, and survivorship.
  • Through united and collaborative efforts, HNCA provides support to head and neck cancer patients throughout the year, supports ongoing research in head and neck oncology, and educates children and adults in the disease process, treatment, and prevention of oral, head and neck cancers.
  • HNCA strives to serve as a One-stop Center for patients, survivors, and family members seeking support and information about head and neck cancer. From the management of symptoms to treatment options to clinical trials, HNCA works in partnership with medical and healthcare partners to provide up-to-date educational information, activities to promote awareness and education, and resources for patients to engage and learn from one another.
  • Led by a Board of Directors with expertise in head and neck surgery, research, and survivorship, HNCA develops strategic priorities to tackle the challenges facing those impacted by this disease.
• Head & Neck Cancer Alliance History
  • 1984 – The Yul Brynner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation was created by the late actor after an abnormality was found on his vocal cord in the 1980s. With the combined vision of Yul Brynner and the knowledge and experience of Dr. George Sisson, the Yul Brynner Foundation was incorporated in Chicago in 1984 to educate the public about the harmful effects of tobacco and its relationship to mouth and throat cancer.
  • 1990 – First medical publications find the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV) in oropharyngeal cancer. In the time since, much work has been done to establish correlation; however, causation is harder to prove.
  • 1997 – The Association for Head and Neck Cancer Awareness was formed by Terry Day, M.D., in Nashville, Tennessee. The Association and the Yul Brynner Foundation combined efforts, propelling Dr. Day to be elected president of the Yul Brynner Foundation, the position he continues to hold with the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance.
  • 1998 – The Yul Brynner Foundation organized and directed an annual Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, an international event designed to further the education of the public and health professionals on this disease.
  • 2000 – The awareness week was officially changed to Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week® (OHANCAW®) to help publicize oral, head and neck cancers.
  • 2006 – The Yul Brynner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation is officially named the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance.
  • 2007 – Gardisil 4 became the first FDA approved HPV vaccine for girls and women between 9 and 26, and boys and men between 9 and 21 years of age. More research is underway to establish the relationship between HPV and oropharyngeal cancer.

The Yul Brynner Grant, later known as the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance Award, was first awarded during the 15th annual meeting of the Dysphagia Research Society in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for swallowing research in patients with head and neck cancer.

• 2009 – Smash Cancer®, a tennis tournament fundraiser is created in Wilmington, NC. Proceeds benefit head and neck cancer patients directly by providing $50 gas cards to help with transportation to and from treatments. To date, proceeds exceed $100,000. In November 2015, a second Smash Cancer event will be established in beautiful Charleston, SC.
• 2015 – #OperationOral, a screening and social media campaign aimed at educating a younger generation (18-35 year-olds) about the association between the human papilloma virus (HPV) and oral, head and neck cancers, began this Summer. Dental students from the Medical University of South Carolina embarked on a cross-country screening tour to teach their generation about the link between the human papillomavirus (HPV) and oropharyngeal cancers, and the importance of yearly screenings and prevention.
• 2021 – HNCA partnered with Stand Up To Cancer®, and three other nonprofits to fund $3.25 million in research grants to find new treatments for head and neck cancers, especially those associated with Fanconi anemia and human papillomavirus (HPV). Read the Full Press Release.