The Swallows Australian Edition Magazine

Beyond Five
- The Face of Head &
Neck Cancer
In 2014 a group of leading Head & Neck
Cancer specialists around Australia came
together to establish Beyond Five; a national
not-for-profit organization, created to provide
information and support for patients,
caregivers, family and health professionals.
Head & Neck Cancer is the 6th most common
cancer in the world. There are an estimated
378,500 new cases diagnosed worldwide
annually.
With 17,160 people living with Head & Neck
Cancer in Australia, and nearly 5,000 people
newly diagnosed each year, it became
glaringly apparent that there was a need to
provide a comprehensive resource that
collectively offers reliable and easily
accessible information and support to
everyone, regardless of where they live.
Beyond Five is the first organisation of its kind
in Australia to dedicate itself to the awareness,
education and support of people affected by
head and neck cancer. The website is a
comprehensive, reliable and always available
hub for education, information, comfort and
shared experience. Easy to access. Easy to
understand.
As health care professionals caring for people
affected by head and neck cancer, we see
daily the impact of this diverse group of
cancers. Whether it is due to advanced skin
cancer, thyroid cancer, mouth, throat or voice
box cancer; the diagnosis, treatment and
experience of living with cancers of the head
and neck has an enormous impact on patients
and their carers. Our aim is to provide trusted,
reliable and accessible information and to
facilitate discussion and education about head
and neck cancer.
“Head and neck cancer is incredibly complex
– it can affect a person’s tongue, salivary
glands, skin or voice box. When we initially tell
someone about their diagnosis of cancer, the
only word they remember is cancer. In those
early days, information is key…” Dr Bruce
Ashford
The Beyond Five website and educational
content was painstakingly developed over 24
months by our nation’s leading experts in the
field of head and neck cancer management,
launching in October of 2016.
Multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary by
design, the contributor list exceeds 60 industry
experts, which enables us to provide accurate
information that is based on the best available
evidence and clinical consensus.
“One feature of the site which we believe will
be incredibly useful is the 3D animations for
each type of head and neck cancer that guide
people through the location of the cancer, how
it affects a person and what treatment is
available.” Professor Jonathan Clark
The name Beyond Five refers to the long-term
support that patients with different types of
head and neck cancer often need.
Forever evolving, the initiative is a thriving
collaboration of multi-disciplined &
multi-institutional medical teams across
Australia & New Zealand committed to raising
awareness, providing education and utilising
best practice and research in order to advance
optimal treatment for Head & Neck Cancer.
We are a resource for patients, care givers,
family and health professionals. A portal for
knowledge, empowerment and hope.
“It’s not easy. But you can go through it, come
out the other side and continue to live a great
life…”
Find out more at: www.beyondfive.org.au
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#headandneckcancer
@beyondfiveorg
Beyond Five is all about a strong community. If
you have any comments, thoughts, or wish to
request more information, reach out to us at
contact@beyondfive.org.au