Glenn Hanna, MD

Panelists discuss how thorough monitoring led to the discovery of asymptomatic throat cancer in a patient with HPV, emphasizing the importance of maintaining fitness, building support networks, and adopting a positive attitude throughout the cancer journey despite multiple recurrences.

Patient Perspectives on Learning About Their HNSCC

Andrew Dunning's patient perspective emphasizes the importance of thorough monitoring and early detection in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma management. His asymptomatic head and neck cancer was discovered only through comprehensive imaging recommended by his radiation oncologist, demonstrating how systematic screening can identify occult disease. Despite having HPV infection as a known risk factor, Dunning maintained an exceptionally healthy lifestyle with no traditional risk factors such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption, challenging common assumptions about cancer causation.

The patient experience reveals remarkable resilience and adaptation strategies throughout treatment. Dunning continued working and exercising during intensive radiation and chemotherapy, experiencing minimal adverse effects that typically include taste loss and fatigue. His approach to cancer as a "stage 5" opportunity for life after diagnosis reflects a transformative mindset that views the disease as a challenge rather than a limitation. This perspective enabled him to maintain high-level physical fitness throughout multiple treatment phases.

Community support and patient advocacy emerged as central themes in Dunning's journey. His weekly Facebook posts documenting his experience created connections with other patients and families, establishing a support network beyond traditional medical care. The emphasis on fitness from an early age, strong family support, and proactive engagement with the cancer community illustrates how psychosocial factors can significantly impact treatment outcomes and quality of life. Dunning's mission to prove there is "life after cancer" demonstrates the powerful role of patient advocacy in inspiring hope and resilience in others facing similar diagnoses.

Videos

Panelists discuss how recurrent metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) manifests through symptoms such as persistent sore throat and neck lumps, with risk factors including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and HPV infection, particularly affecting patients in their 50s and 60s who lacked access to preventive HPV vaccination.

Expert Overview of Recurrent/Metastatic HNSCC

Glenn Hanna, MD, a head and neck cancer specialist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, provides a comprehensive overview of recurrent HNSCC. The discussion features patient Andrew Dunning, who shares his unique cancer journey beginning with rectal cancer in 2019, followed by the discovery of neck cancer during a full-body PET scan. Dunning's case illustrates the complexity of multiple primary cancers, as his head and neck cancer later metastasized to his ribs and liver despite successful initial treatment.

The clinical presentation of HNSCC varies significantly, with common initial symptoms including persistent sore throat, difficulty swallowing, ear pain, and palpable neck lumps that patients often discover during routine activities such as shaving. Hanna emphasizes that recurrent disease can be asymptomatic and detected only through imaging surveillance, highlighting the importance of regular monitoring protocols. Advanced cases may present with pain in various locations or laboratory abnormalities, while emerging circulating tumor DNA blood tests offer new detection possibilities.

Risk factors for HNSCC encompass 2 distinct disease categories: carcinogen-related cancers from tobacco and alcohol use, and the increasingly prevalent HPV-associated cancers affecting the oropharynx. The rise in HPV-related head and neck cancers particularly affects individuals in their 50s and 60s who lacked access to preventive vaccination during their youth. This epidemiological shift reflects changing risk factor patterns as smoking rates decline in developed countries, making HPV-associated disease more prominent in current clinical practice.

Glenn Hanna, MD

Patient Perspectives on Learning About Their HNSCC

Expert Overview of Recurrent/Metastatic HNSCC

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