Head and Neck Cancer Survivors
HNCA honors all head and neck cancer survivors from the newly-diagnosed, those navigating through their cancer journey as well as individuals who are post-cancer treatment. Each personal story is inspiring and reflects each individual’s unique path.
We welcome and encourage others to share their head and neck cancer experience. When submitting your story, please be sure to send along photos of your life as well as 8-10 paragraphs describing your head and neck cancer journey. Please send to info@headandneck.org.
The Beasleys
Mucoepidermoid Cancer Survivor
When getting well becomes a full-time job, a dedicated caregiver and family support system become crucial to recovery. The Beasleys share the story of how they worked together to get to their new normal.
Rusty
Head and Neck Cancer Survivor
Rusty knows that cancer doesn’t discriminate. Fighting #cancer is hard enough, but fighting misperceptions makes the burden heavier to bear.
Carolyn
Sinus Cancer Survivor
Meet Carolyn, a sinus cancer survivor, who focuses on the blessings in her life to continue healing and encouraging others.
Valerie
Tongue Cancer Survivor
Thanks to immunotherapy, Valerie was able to roll with the punches and beat cancer.
Ryan
Tongue Cancer Survivor
Ryan shares his journey as a young, oral cancer patient. As a survivor, he appreciates the good times and a new perspective on life.
Julia
HPV-related Oral Cancer Survivor
To beat cancer, Julia relied on proven treatments, a healthy dose of positivity, and taking the time to appreciate the small things in life.
Jim
Tongue Cancer Survivor
Before he was diagnosed with tongue cancer, he had a history of colon and prostate cancer. Jim turned to immunotherapy to beat cancer and get back to the life he loves.
Lisa Reed
Tongue Cancer Survivor

Depression is death in recovery. It was at this point, I realized it was up to me to make something happen, so I got busy. I researched nutrition and scoured bookshelves for books focusing strictly on soups. Many recipes I had to reinvent to make them possible for me to eat.
Bill McCone
Tonsil Cancer Survivor

I took the opportunity, and after just 24 weeks, there was no evidence of cancer in my body. I was floored, but I’m living life to the full, camping, walking, and traveling with my wife.
Jason Mendelsohn
HPV-related Tonsil Cancer Survivor, HNCA Ambassador and Officer of the Board

My life is back to my “new normal” where I can spend time with my wife and kids, work full time and do my best to help others by serving as an ambassador for education regarding oral cancer.
Don Sublett
Tongue Cancer Survivor

While undergoing cancer treatment, I chronicled my experience by sending e-mail notes, initially, to a small group of family and friends. My initial intimate sharing mushroomed, because many of them, in turn, shared those notes far-and-wide. What started out as a small number, ultimately resulted in an e-mail list of approximately 250 people receiving my cancer updates. Several who received my updates told me, “Don, you have a story to tell. I hope you will write a book about your experience and include your e-mail updates!”
Hank Deneski
Tongue Cancer Survivor & HNCA Ambassador

“what’s next Doc?"
Geoffrey N. Read
Laryngeal Cancer Survivor

But… I am now unable to talk at all.
Jessica Tar
2016 OHANCAW Spokesperson & Oral Cancer Survivor

During the time that I made progress to access the medical care that I needed, I was also plagued with hurdles of distraction, denial and misinformation, all of which played a role in delaying my final diagnosis. I believe that my success as a cancer patient is first due to the process of recognition on a basic level, that something in my body was not the same as it was and I was worse off. Secondly, comes the art of dismissing medical opinions that are presented as final truths and respectfully seeking out alternative opinions with an air of diligence and anticipation of inconvenience…
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