The Victorian Head and Neck Cancer Support Group held its first meeting of the year, bringing together 27 members -15 in person and 12 online - including seven new members. It was a fantastic turnout, and we were especially pleased to welcome our new members, who introduced themselves and shared their experiences.
Our guest speaker was Shae an Oral Health Therapist from the Peter Mac dental team, who provided invaluable insights into oral care for people affected by head and neck cancer. She covered a range of important topics, including dental hygiene, osteoradionecrosis, flossing, the use of high-fluoride toothpaste, and considerations around implants, extractions, and dentures.
The discussion was lively, with members sharing their own experiences and questions about dental care post-treatment. The importance of regular check-ups, maintaining oral health, and adapting to changes after treatment were key takeaways from the session.
The rest of the meeting was spent meeting new members and sharing our stories. Andy took the opportunity to call out a recent press article raising awareness for HPV related cancers. While the article was great and no doubt raised awareness, let’s not forget that Andy is the real star of the group- see why here.
It was a great start to the year, reinforcing the strength of our community in supporting one another through shared knowledge and experiences. We look forward to our March meeting!
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