Long Name - Big Hearts

The local chapter of the Support for People with Oral, Head and Neck Cancer meets every 3rd Saturday at the Cancer Support Home in Fayetteville. Jack and Temple Igleburger share their knowledge based on their own personal cancer journeys, and provide a atmosphere of support for the folks who visit the group as they're going through their own treatment or learning how to deal with the "new normal" in the recovery phase. Here's an excerpt from the bio we shared last year when Jack received the Gentleman of Distinction award at our annual gala, the Bill Fleeman Gentlemen of Distinction. 

"Jack Igleburger had no experience with cancer before he was diagnosed with it himself. As he says, "Cancer wasn't on [his] personal radar...". He had no close family members or acquaintances who dealt with the disease and, like most people, took life and good health for granted. 

Jack had been dealing with a sore throat and raspy cough for several months when a lump appeared on his neck. He went through several attempts to diagnose the problem, including cough medicines and antibiotics for a possible infection. he was finally referred to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist.

During his last week of work and just before his retirement party, he got a call from the new doctor who asked him to come to his office the next day to discuss his biopsy results. He was informed that he had stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma of the base of his tongue. The cancer had already spread to his jaw bone, esophagus and lymph nodes. But the words that left the biggest impression on Jack came next: the cancer was inoperable, and he had approximately a 50% chance of survival.

Jack made it through the treatment with the help of a good team of doctors, family, and his new wife and caregiver, Temple - herself a breast cancer survivor. They attended the Support for People with Oral, Head and Neck Cancer (SPOHNC) "Celebration of Life" in New York in August of 2006... At the meeting, the experience of meeting other survivors and facilitators of support groups was an emotional one that initiated some thought for Jack and Temple. On the flight home they decided they should create a SPOHNC chapter in Arkansas.

With the help of a few local organizations, including Hope Cancer Resources, they held their first SPOHNC meeting on September 23, 2006. Today, they still facilitate the only SPOHNC chapter in the state of Arkansas. Their support for people dealing with this disease creates a ripple effect in our community: several of the survivors in their group also volunteer their time at local oncology clinics, work one-on-one with newly-diagnosed patients in the "Been There" program, or participate in local fundraisers to help support the network of cancer support in our area."

Awareness of cancer usually centers around the understanding of symptoms, and one's own personal risk factors. In the case of Oral, Head and Neck cancers (and many others), the side effects can often be mistaken for other health issues - just as Jack's was. Here are some key points from the National Cancer Institute to be aware of:

• Most head and neck cancers begin in the squamous cells that line the moist surfaces inside the head and neck.
• Tobacco use, alcohol use, and human papillomavirus infection are important risk factors for head and neck cancers.
• Typical symptoms of head and neck cancers include a lump or sore (for example, in the mouth) that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, and a change or hoarseness in the voice.
• Rehabilitation and regular follow-up care are important parts of treatment for patients with head and neck cancers.

 Follow the link above to learn more about common locations of head and neck cancers, detailed symptoms based on location, known causes and common side-effects of treatment.

What is SPOHNC?

Support for People with Oral, Head and Neck Cancers isn't the easiest support group name to remember, but if you spoke to the people who have been helped through the monthly meetings of this group, led locally by Jack & Temple Igleburger, you'd know that the value of the support provided by group is worth the trouble.

Jack is himself a survivor of oral cancer and started the local chapter of the organization in 1991 Here is some information taken from the organization's newsletter:

"[SPOHNC] is a non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the emotional, physical and humanistic needs of oral and head and neck patients and their caregivers. The group is patient-directed, offering peer advice and encouraging self-help for patients in need. SPOHNC chapters hold monthly meetings offering information, support and encouragement to newly diagnosed patients, survivors, family members and friends in a friendly, non-threatening forum. Survivors discuss situations, experiences, coping strategies and hopes. Educational programs are also presented as part of the group program."

The local SPOHNC support group meets every third Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m. at the Cancer Support Home in Fayetteville. Attendees share successes and concerns, ask questions and get advice from others who have dealt with challenges similar to their own. Current news about cancer is also shared, and issues such as prescription medicine expiration and new studies in oral, head and neck cancer treatment are popular topics of discussion. It's an extremely supportive group, and the fact that it's still going after 21 years speaks to the dedication of Jack and Temple to their mission of helping others who are going through what they did. For more information, contact Jack or Temple at 479-876-1051 or 586-4807 or tmplnjak@cox.net.

April is National Oral, Head and Neck Cancer month, and this week - April 22-28 - is dedicated to sharing information about the multiple types of cancer that the month encompasses. To that end, we'll do our part and provide some information here:

Tobacco (including smokeless tobacco, sometimes called “chewing tobacco” or “snuff”) and alcohol use are the most important risk factors for head and neck cancers, particularly those of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx. Eighty-five percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use. People who use both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk for developing these cancers than people who use either tobacco or alcohol alone.

Head and neck cancers account for approximately 3 to 5 percent of all cancers in the United States. These cancers are more common in men and in people over age 50. It is estimated that about 12,000 men and 9,000 women will develop these cancers each year. If you are a smoker, or know someone who is, it's important that you are aware of the following symptoms and visit your physician as soon as you see any of them develop.

Symptoms of several head and neck cancer sites include a lump or sore that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, and a change or hoarseness in the voice. Other symptoms may include the following:

• Oral cavity. A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth; a swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable; and unusual bleeding or pain in the mouth.
• Nasal cavity and sinuses. Sinuses that are blocked and do not clear, chronic sinus infections that do not respond to treatment with antibiotics, bleeding through the nose, frequent headaches, swelling or other trouble with the eyes, pain in the upper teeth, or problems with dentures.
• Salivary glands. Swelling under the chin or around the jawbone; numbness or paralysis of the muscles in the face; or pain that does not go away in the face, chin, or neck.
• Oropharynx and hypopharynx. Ear pain.
• Nasopharynx. Trouble breathing or speaking, frequent headaches, pain or ringing in the ears, or trouble hearing.
• Larynx. Pain when swallowing, or ear pain.
• Metastatic squamous neck cancer. Pain in the neck or throat that does not go away.