Voices For Visibility: Marking World Head And Neck Cancer Day In Aotearoa New Zealand
Head and neck cancers affect the mouth, throat, voice box, sinuses, nose, and salivary glands. While they represent only about 4% of all cancers in New Zealand, their impact is far greater. Treatments often involve disfiguring surgery, radiation, chemotherapy—or all three—leaving patients with lifelong difficulties in speaking, swallowing, breathing, and eating. And yet, despite these challenges, the voices of those affected are often lost in our health system.
A Growing Need for Change
In recent years, we have seen an increase in HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers, particularly in younger people. At the same time, oral cancers continue to disproportionately affect older adults and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Māori patients often face worse outcomes due to delayed diagnosis and limited access to services.
Despite advancements in treatment, our health system is struggling to provide timely and equitable care. Patients report delays in diagnosis, and insufficient support during survivorship. As one survivor told us, "You're patched up, but you're not put back together."
We can do better.
What We're Asking For
The Head and Neck Cancer Support Network Trust believes that every New Zealander affected by head and neck cancer deserves:
Timely, accurate diagnosis
Coordinated multidisciplinary care
Access to clinical nurse specialists and rehabilitation services
Culturally appropriate support for Māori and Pacific patients
A national action plan for head and neck cancer
We also call for increased awareness in the general public and among primary care clinicians. Early detection saves lives—but only if people know what to look for. Persistent hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, unexplained mouth sores or lumps in the neck should never be ignored.
Our Work
The Trust is a national patient-led charity working to improve outcomes through advocacy, peer support, and education. We maintain online forums, connect patients with resources, and collaborate with clinicians to improve care. Most importantly, we listen to and amplify the lived experiences of survivors, carers, and whānau.
On World Head and Neck Cancer Day, we honour their strength—and we recommit to fighting for a system that sees them, hears them, and heals them.
What You Can Do
Learn the signs and symptoms of head and neck cancer
Share our resources with your networks
Talk to your GP if something doesn't feel right
Support our work at www.headandneck.org.nz
Together, we can bring head and neck cancer out of the shadows—and ensure no one faces it alone.
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