Cancer support group CEO campaigns government to fund free dental care for patients with head and neck cancer

Chris Curtis, CEO of The Swallows Head and Neck Cancer Support Group kindly shared his experience both as an advocate and as a patient during the Patient Perspective session of the Bionow Oncology conference on Thursday.

A key point of his presentation was the importance of quality of life for cancer survivors, and to reinforce this, the support group has launched a Petitions Committee-approved call for the government to fund free dental care for head and neck cancer patients, both during and after treatment, to address the severe oral health challenges survivors face and improve their quality of life.

The importance of dental treatment for patients

Head and neck cancer treatments, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, often cause long-term oral health issues, including:

• Persistent dry mouth (xerostomia)

• Tooth decay and infections

• Difficulty eating, swallowing and speaking

These issues can seriously impact survivors’ health, confidence and daily life.

Providing free dental care could ensure patients have access to essential treatments, improve their health outcomes, and reduce the financial burden, similar to other cancer types already covered by healthcare services.

Find out more and sign the petition here

At 10,000 signatures, the government will respond to this petition.

At 100,000 signatures, this petition will be considered for debate In Parliament.