Marty Doyle
Head and Neck Cancer Support Australia
When Marty was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma with an Unknown Primary in Brisbane in 2004, public awareness for Head and Neck Cancer in Australia was very low, almost non-existent outside of the medical profession.
Following his treatment, Marty looked around for support from others who had been through Head and Neck Cancer treatment and found none in Brisbane. He brought this to the attention of a friend at Cancer Council Queensland and they jokingly said, “Why don’t you start your own Support Group”. So, he did.
Over the last 16 years Marty and a core group of fellow survivors have developed the awareness of Head and Neck Cancer and held Support Group Meetings in Brisbane monthly so that anyone who has just been diagnosed, is going through treatment or is dealing with the many side effects of the treatment, can join a conversation about their experiences in a positive safe environment.
They also regularly invite Medical Specialists and Allied Professionals to be part of the meetings, so we can all learn from each other.
Over the years Marty has reached out to other areas of this vast country to see if we could all support each other, exchange experiences and have a common message and they have slowly built a strong and caring network.
In late 2014 he started to think why don’t we set up an awareness day in Brisbane? He thought why not July (It’s fairly quiet in Australia from a Health Awareness perspective).
Then quite literally the next day, he received an email from the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies making July 27th World Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Day.
So, they kicked off the first Awareness Day in Brisbane on 27th July 2015 with posters and signage at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital. Princess Alexandra Hospital also held free Oral Examinations.
The Support Group along with Cancer Council Queensland also ran the first Head and Neck Cancer Forum which was attended by medical specialists, allied professionals, patients, carers and family members to discuss experiences and the latest support available.
Since then Head and Neck Cancer Awareness has grown exponentially not only in Brisbane but regional Queensland and right across Australia with the great work of Head and Neck Cancer Support Australia, Julie McCrossin, the Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Nurses Association, ANZHNCSA and Beyond 5.
Today there are support groups in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay, Newcastle, Gosford, Liverpool, North Sydney, Hobart, Launceston, Bernie, Albury, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide. Along with Auckland and Canterbury in New Zealand.
The Brisbane Support group was the first Cancer Council Queensland Accredited Support group in Queensland.
This year Head and Neck Cancer is the 7th largest cancer in Australia and 5th most common cancer in men. Last year 4,956 people were diagnosed, and Head and Neck Cancer rates are increasing.
The Facebook Site for Head and Neck Cancer Support Australia is: https://www.facebook.com/HeadAndNeckCancerSupportAustralia/