Head and Neck Cancer Australia (formerly Beyond Five) was established in December 2014 and is Australia’s first charity dedicated to providing education and support to people living with head and neck cancer, caregivers, family and health professionals.
Head and Neck Cancer Australia was established to provide comprehensive, easy to understand and easy to access information to everyone, regardless of where they live. Head and Neck Cancer Australia is the first organisation in Australia supporting patients and their families through their cancer journey, from diagnosis to treatment and life after cancer.
Head and Neck Cancer Australia's mission is to improve the quality of life of everyone affected by head and neck cancer through education and access to support and to raise awareness of head and neck cancer nationally.
We are committed to working collaboratively with all specialties across Australia to achieve our mission.
When doctors talk about curing cancer they talk in terms of 5-year survival. However, in patients with head and neck cancer the effects of the cancer and their treatment stay with the patient forever.
These effects can be seen as scars on the patient’s face that cannot be hidden by clothing, or difficulties with speech and swallowing. Head and Neck Cancer Australia's original name, 'Beyond Five', referred to the long-term support that patients with different types of head and neck cancer often need, which is more than five years after they are diagnosed.
Head and neck cancer is incredibly complex and diverse. It includes more than 10 different cancers that can affect a person’s mouth, tongue, salivary glands, skin or voice box. In the past, smoking was the most common cause of head and neck cancer typically affecting areas like the mouth, throat and voice box. However, today in Australia, many head and neck cancers are due to other causes.
For example, the human papilloma virus is the most common cause of tonsil cancer, which is rapidly increasing in incidence. Skin cancers on the face are mainly due to sun exposure and may extend to the eyes, ears, nose and salivary glands. For many other head and neck cancers, such as thyroid cancer, the cause is unknown.
In 2014 a team of passionate people from all around Australia working within the field of head and neck cancer care came together to initiate and drive Head and Neck Cancer Australia (formerly Beyond Five).
Head and Neck Cancer Australia is very fortunate to have head and neck experts around Australia and New Zealand contribute to the development and review of content for the Head and Neck Cancer Australia website. Their involvement helped us to provide information that is based on the best available evidence and clinical consensus. Meet our team.
Head and Neck Cancer Australia is a company limited by guarantee. Head and Neck Cancer Australia is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) and abides by the ACNC Governance Standards.
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