Head & Neck Cancer Support Network

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Auckland/Northland Service Improvement

The Network volunteers continue to work with the Auckland/Northland Service to implement the recommendations of last year's review. We are seeking ideas for how to improve the Multidisciplinary Team meeting. Many HNC patients, their care givers and family/whanau will…

Greetings to everyone

Diana is still in Europe so today's news will be brief.

We welcome Tamara, Nick, Marlene and Mary to our network. These are our new June members so far. 

Most of our discussion is on our closed Facebook group,

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HNCSupport.Aotearoa/?ref=bookmarks but you can contact us via the…

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Auckland/Northland Service Improvement

Five members of our Auckland/Northland group are taking part in workshops looking at aspects of head and neck cancer care like pathway co-design, models of care, the role of dietitians, psychologists and speech langauge therapists. There have been some lively discussions and a sense that the patient's voice is being heard. 

Auckland June…

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We win!

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Vote for Us!

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Our Network - update
In May we are holding our Annual General Meeting to report on the activity of the Network over the last year, and to elect officers for the 2018/9 year. We will send out through our usual channels our Annual Report, and an invitation to attend our AGM. This year we intend to broadcast our meeting using Zoom. You can access our AGM meeting from here.  …

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We are one quarter of the way through the year. We hope you have had an enjoyable break over the holiday period. The summer seems to be never ending, and we hope you are enjoying the good weather. 

Recently, a number of our members have shared their stories of head and neck cancer. Three of those stories are highlighted in our most populare posts. Links are below. I highly recommend each of the stories for their unique perspectives of head and neck cancer…

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We know that some people do not "do" Facebook, and are unlikely to sign up to our website. These folk need to connect and receive support, so we are taking a new approach. We are introducing What's App, the Smartphone app, that connects people without the need for the Internet. We think this might suit some of our men. It's a simple way of knowing what's…

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Global Cancer Report 

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6 February is a very special day for New Zealanders. All over the world we are celebrating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (te tiriti O Waitangi) in the Bay of Islands on 6 February 1840. It is from across the bay, from the treaty grounds I write this Network News. There is much excitment in the air as we…

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Our Network - update

 …

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Happy New Year

We wish you the very best for 2018. I hope all is well with you and your loved ones. The holiday break is over and the Network is ready for the challenges of the year ahead. We have committed to working with the Auckland/Northland District Health Board to implement the recommendations of the 2017…

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Auckland Review see our post here. We are still seeking feedback until the New Year. So have your say. 

A huge thank you to Ailsa Claire,…

Ata marie whanau,

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The Auckland Review of Head and Neck Services


None of us are mind readers. And, this I know is true, I cannot see the future. So for the Network to accurately represent your interests in treatment, care and support, we need your help. Please read the report from the Auckland Review of…

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EPatient Dave Visit

It was a great honour to meet Dave de Bronkhart. Dave was a guest of the Waitemata DHB. He spoke to WDHB as part of the CEO lecture series. He kindly shared his time with a smaller workshop which some of us from the Network attended.

Dave's story is moving and fascinating, as his cancer treatment was recommended not by his health care professionals, but through a online patient discussion board. Dave's treatment…