Julie McCrossin: The Scarf Stories campaign is sharing the stories of cancer survivors

Julie McCrossin, Cancer Survivor, shared a post by Head and Neck Cancer Australia, on LinkedIn:

“The Scarf Stories campaign is sharing the stories of cancer survivors via a limited-edition scarf to start conversations about improving prevention, survival and quality of life.

Here’s a short booklet all about Throat Cancer and HPV. It’s the cancer I was treated for 11 years ago.”

Quoting Head and Neck Cancer Australia’s post:

“Thank you to Julie McCrossin AM based in South Australia, a long-term and passionate advocate for people with head and neck cancer, for sending in this gorgeous photo and reflections of her experience with head and neck cancer and the scarf stories campaign.

“When I was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer in 2013 I got the shock of my life. As a non-drinker and non-smoker for decades it seemed incomprehensible.

Now I know that HPV, the Human Papillomavirus that caused my cancer, is increasingly the major cause of head and neck cancers in many parts of the western world.

I will be forever grateful that I had rapid access to a multidisciplinary cancer team that gave me a good chance of survival. You need a team to recover from the impact of the essential but very tough treatments.

I still feel a sense of personal attachment and gratitude towards the speech pathologist, dietitian and nurse co-ordinator who supported me to recover the ability to swallow and speak again. My medical team will always be major characters in my personal life story. .

The intensity of cancer treatment and the five-year follow up to monitor for recurrence mean we develop close relationships with our clinicians.

The Scarf Stories campaign is helping us to start the conversations we need to have to improve prevention, survival and recovery for all patients, wherever we live and whatever our economic circumstances.

It can be hard to get people to think about head and neck cancer because it is frightening. Many people recoil in fear at the thought.

These scarfs are a catalyst for conversation about a tough topic that needs more attention. As a survivor I feel joy when I see these scarfs. At last there is something beautiful associated with one of the most significant experiences of my life – survival from cancer.” Julie McCrossin AM.

Thank you Julie. We look forward to keeping the conversation going so that people living with hashtag#headandneckcancer get the support they need.”

Source: Julie McCrossin/LinkedIn and Head and Neck Cancer Australia/LinkedIn