There was a study recently published that showed that optimistic HNC patients survived significantly longer than those who were pessimistic. (Allison et al, 2003, J. Clin. Oncol. 21: 543-548). Also, those living with others were more likely than those who lived alone to be alive after 1 year (post-treatment).

Thus the huge importance of support and encouragement -- the published statistics for HNC are NOT good (looking only at the patients who have treatment) and the treatments can be debilitating so it IS hard to be optimistic but...the many voices on this forum shows that there is a lot of reason for hope.

Also, after a long time with little significant progress re new treatments there appear to be good things on the horizon, another reason for some optimisim...

Gail Mackiernan
(using husband Barry Cooper's log-in)