The International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS), as part of the opening ceremonies of its 5th World Congress, and in collaboration with the annual meeting of the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS), will proclaim July 27th as “World Head and Neck Cancer Day.”
The announcement on Sunday, July 27th will kick off the World Congress of Head and Neck Cancer, held jointly by IFHNOS and AHNS in celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the establishment of the first head and neck cancer surgery service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This opening session will include remarks from former President Bill Clinton, actor and producer Michael Douglas and experts in head and neck cancer.
“Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (head and neck cancer) is the leading cause of death and disability in many parts of the world,” said Jatin Shah, MD, IFHNOS Congress Chairman, Chief of the Head and Neck Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and AHNS Past President. “The vast majority of these cancers can be prevented or can be cured if detected early; however, millions suffer from delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment, inappropriate rehabilitation and palliation,” Dr. Shah said. The collaborative effort will call upon the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), to also recognize July 27th as World Head and Neck Cancer Day and to join the international movement to increase awareness and promote education and training in the diagnosis, treatment, outcomes and research in head and neck cancer. ■
