To mark the month, and raise awareness, cancer survivor Jackie Welsh is promoting a community fundraiser ‘Soup for the Soul’ in Wangaratta.
“I want to raise awareness of head and neck cancers and the benefit of early diagnosis,” she said,
There are up to 40 different types and sub sites of head and neck cancers.
These include oral, tonsil, nasal and sinus, skin cancers, including face, nose and lip, to name just a few.
“In December 2022 l received an Oral Cancer diagnosis, picked up by my Dentist) and underwent subsequent surgery in January 2023,” Ms Welsh said.
“My lower left teeth, jawbone and multiple lymph nodes from under my chin, up to my ear and down to my collarbone were all removed.
“My face was then rebuilt using my fibula bone and tissue taken from my left leg by the amazing oral and maxillofacial team at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
“Thankfully, due to an early diagnosis, I avoided the need for radiation treatment and chemotherapy.
“It is extremely important if you have an ulcer, a painful area anywhere within your mouth or throat that does not resolve itself within a few weeks, have it investigated.
“Oral cancer diagnoses are increasing dramatically in women in general and more specifically in younger women, when it was previously more common in older men who smoked and drank.
“I have never been a smoker nor an alcohol drinker, and it was devastating being diagnosed with a squamous cell carcinoma in a tooth socket.
“Please, if you have any concerns relating to your head and neck area get it checked out by your Dentist or GP.”
Head and Neck Cancer Australia (HANCA) is the only national charity in Australia dedicated to supporting individuals affected by head and neck cancer.
They offer information via their website and support for patients, family, carers and now offer a dedicated telephone helpline - 1300 424 848.
Since 2024, HANCA has been lobbying the Federal Government to introduce a nationally funded external facial prosthetic scheme to replace the current fragmented situation, which is governed by your postcode or your ability to fund a prosthetic privately.
This is seen as an important step as head and neck cancer treatments often leave people with facial disfigurement, oral or dental dysfunction or loss of voice.
“My effort to raise funds for HANCA is via the fundraiser called ‘Soup for the Soul’,” Ms Welsh said.
“Soup for the Soul is such an apt fundraiser title as soup was and still is such a lifeline for people like me who have trouble eating food that requires a lot of chewing, and a bowl of Soup in winter is the perfect meal.
“In conjunction with the Little B Café, (corner of Cusack and Norton Sts, Wangaratta) I am participating in the ‘Soup for the Soul’ fundraiser.
“Every bowl of soup sold from July 1-July 17 will equal a $5 donation.
If you are visiting Wangaratta and want to have lunch, call in and enjoy your soup, knowing you are supporting an incredibly important cause.
“There is also takeaway hot or cold soup available.“
For bookings, please call 5791 1050 or message Little B Café on Facebook page or Instagram.
Little B is being supported by donations from local businesses, La Bella Rocca and Salus Bakery.
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