Survivors of head and neck cancer are raising their voices in this festive season in chorus for government funding
They’ve had invasive, life-altering surgeries on their face, tongue, throat, sinuses and salivary glands. They’ve experienced the exquisite, life-saving pain of radiotherapy. They’ve endured rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy
However, despite invasive surgeries on their face, tongue, throat and sinuses, over 60 people created a virtual choir, singing deck the halls.
Head and Neck Cancer Australia Chief Executive, Nadia Rosin, says the choir’s voices include the real voices of survivors and the people who love them. For choir members who could not sing because of surgery, pain, side effects or even fear of singing, they were welcome to clap, dance, play an instrument or even hold up a sign.
Unlike some more common cancers, head and neck cancer receives no government funding in Australia for many patient outcomes.
Raising our Voices: Head and Neck Cancer Australia Christmas Carol
14 people newly diagnosed every day with a type of Head and Neck Cancer the information, resources, advocacy and support Head and Neck Cancer Australia (HANCA) provides is vital.
Whether it was singing, clapping, holding up a sign, playing an instrument or dancing, the joy expressed by everyone truly makes this performance incredibly special!
Head and Neck Cancer Australia chief executive Nadia Rosin says that more than a thousand Australians died every year from a head or neck cancer “but unlike some more common cancers, head and neck cancer receives no government funding for prevention, early diagnosis or to improve patient outcomes”.
“Many people haven’t even heard of head and neck cancers until they, or someone they love, is diagnosed with one of these cancers. Think sinus cancer, salivary gland cancer, throat cancer, laryngeal cancer and lip or mouth cancer,” Rosin says.
We are thrilled to launch Deck the Halls performed by Australia's first-ever Head and Neck Cancer Virtual Choir featuring over 60 people from the #HNC community across Australia. Please help us to Raise the Voices of #HNC by sharing the song far and wide! https://t.co/NejaU92ilkpic.twitter.com/U0QErt0AAO
The most important risk factors for head and neck are tobacco and alcohol use which are responsible for over 75% of cases. But what many people may not know is that today in Australia, the human papilloma virus (HPV), the same virus that causes cervical cancer is the most common cause of tonsil cancer and tongue-based cancer.
There has also been an alarming 385% increase in oral cancers in young women under 45 and the cause is unknown. So even if you don’t smoke or drink to excess, you could be at risk
“Our choir is elevating the voices of survivors and advocating for the 5,100 Australians diagnosed every year, and the 17,000 Australians living with the effects of head and neck cancer, so that we can raise awareness and deliver the right support and treatment for our Head and Neck Cancer community,” Rosin says.
“Given that many people’s voices and ability to speak is changed by head and neck cancer, or its treatment, it might seem strange that we’ve decided to form a pop-up, virtual choir. But we worked very closely with an experienced choir master, speech pathologist and mixing engineer so that everyone who wanted to participate could participate.”
Head and neck cancers are such a sinister disease and the effects of the cancer and their treatment can stay with people for the rest of their lives. It is displayed on their faces for the world to see and it cannot be hidden by clothing.
Unlike some more common cancers, there is no screening test for head and neck cancer so all Australians, particularly men, need to be aware of the signs and symptoms and act quickly if they notice something unusual.
Some of the more common causes of head and neck cancer include a sore in the mouth that doesn’t heal, pain swallowing, a sore throat or a lump in the neck. Other symptoms can include ear pain, a blocked nose on one side and/or bloody discharge or a bulging or watery eye.
The best thing people can do to reduce their risks around head and neck cancer to is to be aware of the symptoms and get them checked out by their local doctor or dentist without delay. An early diagnosis can make all the difference.
The carol will be sent to every politician in Australia to advocate for funding support.
“We encourage everyone across the country to share it far and wide. Funding for awareness and patient support is the way we’ll improve health outcomes – and literally change lives – for people diagnosed with head and neck cancer,” Rosin says.
People are being encouraged to donate to HANCA Christmas Appeal to support the head and neck cancer community and raising the voices of people living with Head and Neck Cancer.
Hegseth disclosed sensitive military strike details on Signal before attacks on Houthi militants, raising concerns over classified information leaks.
In Short
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed military strike details against Houthi militants in Yemen via group chat, insisting the information wasn’t classified.
This has raised concerns among lawmakers about the sensitivity of shared information and potential risks to U.S. troops.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed military strike details against Houthi militants via a group chat before the operation in Yemen.
Texts published by Atlantic magazine revealed specific timings and types of weaponry set to be used in the attack.
Hegseth confirmed sharing updates with Trump officials but claimed the information was not classified. He insisted he merely provided mission updates without revealing secret details typically guarded by the Pentagon.
The texts indicated that the weather was suitable for the operation and confirmed when the first bombs would be dropped.
‘Significant figure’
National security adviser Mike Waltz later reported that the strike had successfully targeted a significant Houthi figure.
Republican lawmakers expressed concern over the sensitivity of information shared, questioning whether it required classification.
Former officials stated that military targeting plans are typically classified to prevent adversaries from gaining insight into U.S. operations.
The White House defended the authenticity of the texts, insisting no classified material was disclosed.
Concerns were raised regarding the potential dangers posed to U.S. troops if sensitive strike details were intercepted.
The Pentagon recently warned military personnel about vulnerabilities in using the Signal app for sharing classified information.
BYD surpasses Tesla with $107 billion in annual sales, leading EV market and unveiling groundbreaking battery technology.
In Short
BYD’s annual revenue of 777 billion yuan for 2024 surpasses Tesla’s, driven by strong hybrid vehicle sales. The company has introduced groundbreaking battery technology, potentially revolutionising electric vehicle charging and positioning itself as a leader in the automotive market.
Chinese automaker BYD has reported annual revenue of 777 billion yuan, equivalent to $107 billion for 2024. This achievement surpasses that of U.S. competitor Tesla, which reported annual revenue of $97.7 billion.
BYD’s revenue increase of 29% from the previous year is attributed to strong sales of its hybrid vehicles.
Wang Chuanfu, BYD’s chairman, commented on the company’s swift growth, highlighting its status as the first automaker to roll out 10 million new energy vehicles by November.
He noted that BYD is now a leader in batteries, electronics, and new energy vehicles. This marks a significant shift in the global market, challenging established foreign brands.
In a recent announcement, BYD introduced a new battery technology claiming to enable electric vehicles to charge almost as fast as refuelling a petrol car.
The company’s Super e-Platform is reported to allow vehicles to achieve approximately 249 miles of range with just five minutes of charging.
Analysts have described BYD’s new battery platform as groundbreaking, suggesting that it could significantly alter consumer behaviour regarding electric vehicle ownership.
As competition in the electric vehicle sector intensifies, BYD’s advancements position it strongly against Tesla and other rivals in the industry.
The developments signal an important moment in the evolution of electric vehicles, with potential implications for the future of automotive technology.
US and Ukraine announce Black Sea truce, contingent on Kremlin’s sanctions relief conditions.
In Short
The US announced a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea, contingent on Russia lifting certain sanctions.
Both sides have committed to observing the truce, yet achieving a complete ceasefire remains uncertain, with potential future concessions from Russia.
The United States announced that Russia and Ukraine have reached a ceasefire agreement in the Black Sea, conditioned on the removal of specific sanctions by the Kremlin.
The agreement emerged from three days of technical talks in Saudi Arabia, focusing on ensuring safe navigation in the Black Sea and preventing military use of commercial shipping. The US pledged assistance in restoring Russian access to global agricultural markets and reducing maritime insurance costs.
President Donald Trump noted that conditions from the Kremlin would be considered, particularly regarding sanctions on banks involved in agricultural exports. The truce would take effect upon lifting restrictions on the Russian Agricultural Bank and others, tying them to the SWIFT international payment system.
Ukrainian forces
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced an immediate observance of the truce by Ukrainian forces. The two sides also agreed on mechanisms to enforce a ban on attacks against energy infrastructure, effective for 30 days.
While the talks advanced some agreements, achieving a full ceasefire remains challenging, as Russia may seek to extract further concessions from the US.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov expressed confidence in US support for compliance with the agreements. However, full ceasefire timelines proposed by the Trump administration appear overly ambitious to some officials.
Zelenskiy confirmed Ukraine’s commitment to a full ceasefire, highlighting the contrast between Ukraine’s intentions and Russia’s position.
