Project Idea Development: Head and Neck Cancer Awareness in Australia

This project idea, developed for Genesis Care, focuses on raising awareness about head and neck cancer in Australia. It addresses the growing concern, providing background information on Genesis Care's initiatives and the increasing prevalence of head and neck cancer. The project aims to educate the public about symptoms, causes, detection, diagnosis, and treatment, emphasizing the importance of early detection and the role of radiotherapy. Feedback from discussions with students is incorporated, highlighting advantages, disadvantages, and the project's effectiveness. Justification for the project includes the rising incidence of head and neck cancer, risk factors, and the potential for prevention through awareness. The objectives are to increase awareness, explain the role of radiology, and prevent the spread of the disease. The project details symptoms, diagnosis methods, and treatment possibilities, including radiotherapy at Genesis Care. The project's goal is to find the root causes of head and neck cancer in Australia and to help in its eradication by spreading awareness about the disease and its treatment. The project is intended to make the diagnosis procedure as less painful as possible for patients.

Project Idea Development

Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Background of the organisation.................................................................................................3
Initial idea of the project............................................................................................................3
Feedback from discussion with students about project..............................................................4
Project idea justification.............................................................................................................4
Project aim.................................................................................................................................5
Project objectives.......................................................................................................................5
Project justification....................................................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................7

Introduction
Projects are undertaken from time to time in health organisations which particularly
emphasize on creating awareness about a particular health issue, its symptoms, detection,
treatment and diagnosis. Project idea development in health organisations often helps in
spreading awareness about health concerns arising in recent times. These are also useful in
achieving short term eradication plans for certain diseases and health problems. The feedback
from the people who participate in these projects are significant. For example if a disease
takes the form of an epidemic in a particular area or if a health problem tends to increase
more in the people living in a certain region health organisations undertake campaigns or
projects to solve the problem.
Background of the organisation
Genesis Care is one of the leading health care units in Australia which deals with the two
major health issues in the world today, cancer and cardiac diseases. It specialises in providing
radioactive, cardiac and sleep treatments. The growing concern for cancer these days has
become an acute health issue that needs to be taken care of. Genesis Care undertakes projects
from time to time to spread awareness about cancer and issues related to cancer and its
treatment. These projects are undertaken by health professionals working in these
organisation as might be suggested by the management from time to time.
Initial idea of the project
This project is necessary to undertake to make people aware about the growing concern for
head and neck cancer in Australia during recent times. As per Chang.et.al (2013, p. 1723),
Australia has become even more prone to head and neck concern over the last decade.
Maximum deaths due to head and neck cancer occurred between years 2013 to 2015.
Ward.et,al. (2014, p. 46), about 3362 people were affected were affected by head and neck
cancer in the year 2013. Also around 1038 deaths occurred in 2014. People above 40 years of
age are mostly affected by head and neck cancer. In certain cases if the problem is detected
early it might help in retaining speech through radio therapy. Genesis care specializes in radio
therapy therefore if diagnosis is started at an early stage it becomes much easier for the
patient. In this project the organisation has dealt in detail with symptoms, treatment and
diagnosis of head and neck cancer.

Feedback from discussion with students about project
In the process of conducting the project feedback given by fellow pupils are also taken into
consideration. This feedback provides useful guidance in undertaking this project. Some of
the questions asked by the fellow pupils during discussion were as follows:
The advantages and disadvantages of conducting the project: One of the questions from
the fellow pupils were regarding the advantages and disadvantages of this project. Advantage
of conducting this project is people would gain knowledge about the growing concern of head
and neck cancer in Australia. According to Hinni.et.al. (2013, p. 1362), people should know
the causes of head and neck cancer and that early detection is much helpful in reducing the
patient’s pain and retaining speech.As per Forte.et.al. (2012, p. 1343), palliative care can be
used in both early and advanced stages but most important is that if the disease is detected
early it would help in speech retention through radio therapy and thus reduce the patient’s
trauma. One of the barriers in conducting this project is that it would be much time
consuming in context of collection and analysing of data. Without sufficient information it
would be difficult in achieving the motive behind undertaking the project.
Effectiveness of this project in creating awareness regarding head and neck cancer: The
pupils also wanted to know as to how effective this project would be. Head and neck cancer
has increased considerably in Australia over the previous years. Everyday a large number of
patients are admitted in Genesis Care who are affected by syndromes of head and neck
cancer. The diagnosis process involves many steps and is often traumatising for the patients.
Thus if people are made aware about the disease it would help in early detection. So it would
reduce the patient’s pain and trauma. Kangas.et.al. (2013, p.1665), states more people should
know about radio therapy and its importance for speech retention. The primary motive behind
conducting the project is increased awareness of people about this rising health hazard so that
the procedure of diagnosis of a patient detected with it is less painful. Success of the project
would depend on effectiveness in spreading issues related to it as much as possible such as
symptoms, detection, diagnosis and treatment.
Project idea justification
Head and neck cancer is already increasing at an alarming rate in Australia. Head and neck
cancer are often caused by alcohol and tobacco consumption. It is also related to the
papilloma viral infection. According to Chuang.et.al. (2012, p.69), men are much more prone

to this kind of cancer than women. Radio therapy is useful for preserving speech in case a
person is detected with this kind of cancer. If people are aware about the causes and
symptoms of head and neck cancer then prevention is also possible to a certain extent. Also it
would help in early detection so that the pain and trauma of the patients can be reduced as
much as possible. According to Gillison.et.al. (2012, pF34), head and neck cancer affect
areas such as the nose, mouth, throat, sinuses and spread at a fast rate thus making early
detection very difficult. Often the disease is detected at stages where speech retention is not
possible. The maintenance of the oral hygiene can also help in preventing this cancer. This
project would be discussing in detail about all these possibilities of prevention so that people
do not ignore symptoms if there are any. It would also be discussing the various methods of
diagnosis and treatment possibilities which is essential for people to know.
Project aim
The aim of this project is to spread awareness among people regarding head and neck cancer
in context of symptoms, causes, detection, diagnosis and treatment. So that it helps in
preventing the spread of this cancer further in Australia.
Project objectives
Three main objectives of undertaking this project are:
 Creating awareness among Australian people about head and neck cancer
 Explaining the importance of Radiology in head and neck cancer diagnosis
 Preventing head and neck cancer from spreading further in Australia
Project justification
This project is undertaken with a motive to find out the root causes of the spread of head and
neck cancer in Australia during recent times. Thus the risk factors behind causing this health
hazard have been discussed in detail. Also data stating the most affected age group and
statistics showing the affected number of people and number of deaths each year have been
provided. Symptoms which would help in detection and methods of diagnosis have been
discussed. Radiology at Genesis Care and significance of radio therapy in the treatment of
head and neck cancer have also been explained. Issues like oral hygiene, nutrition and
infections that trigger head and neck cancer have been elaborately discussed. Why early
detection is important in case of head and neck cancer is stated in this project. The areas
which are most affected by head and neck cancer. The different stages of this cancer and also

the steps in the treatment are explained. The various lifestyle risks and the nutrition habits
related to this kind of cancer. All these data and information would help to analyse the root
causes of the spread of this cancer in Australia and the reasons behind its increase recently. If
people are aware of the risks it would be easier to prevent it from spreading furthermore.
Neilson.et.al. (2013, p1843), states knowledge about head and neck cancer would help people
to detect the problem and take steps as may be necessary. People would also come to know
about the treatment procedure. If people are aware of the fact that it would only worsen in the
advanced stages and that early detection can only help in speech prevention they would not
ignore symptoms if there are any. Genesis Care provides improvised radiology treatment to
cancer patients and aspects regarding radio therapy have been briefed in this project. The
treatment of cancer patients are very painful and the procedure of treatment of head and neck
cancer becomes even more traumatising. As per Nagadia.et.al. (2013, p1), if this cancer is
detected in advance stages it is not possible to retain speech. This project also intends to
make the diagnosis procedure as much less painful as possible for patients. Chaturvedi (2012,
p16), it has become increasingly important to spread awareness about head and neck cancer
in recent times because it is affecting people in Australia at a faster rate than any other region.
It is hopeful that this project would be successful in prevention of head and neck cancer in
Australia.
Conclusion
This project will help in finding out the causes and risks behind head and neck cancer
occurring among the Australian population. It also aims at the eradication of this disease as
much as possible. It would also provide knowledge about the symptoms at each stage that
would help in easy detection. Improvised Radiology at Genesis Care will make the diagnosis
of head and neck cancer patients much easier. The methods of treatment should also be
known to people. Thus the project would ensure a better experience for head and neck cancer
patients in context of diagnosis and treatment. It would also help to reduce the risk of this
cancer in Australia at the end of the day.

References
Chaturvedi, A.K., 2012. Epidemiology and clinical aspects of HPV in head and neck
cancers. Head and neck pathology, 6(1), pp.16-24.
Nagadia, R., Pandit, P., Coman, W.B., Cooper-White, J. and Punyadeera, C., 2013. miRNAs
in head and neck cancer revisited. Cellular Oncology, 36(1), pp.1-7.
Ward, E.C. and van As-Brooks, C.J. eds., 2014. Head and neck cancer: treatment,
rehabilitation, and outcomes.San Diego, Plural Publishing.pp.46-52
Gillison, M.L., Alemany, L., Snijders, P.J., Chaturvedi, A., Steinberg, B.M., Schwartz, S. and
Castellsagué, X., 2012. Human papillomavirus and diseases of the upper airway: head and
neck cancer and respiratory papillomatosis. Vaccine, 30, pp.F34-F54.
Neilson, K., Pollard, A., Boonzaier, A., Corry, J., Castle, D., Smith, D., Trauer, T. and
Couper, J., 2013. A longitudinal study of distress (depression and anxiety) up to 18 months
after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Psycho
‐Oncology, 22(8), pp.1843-1848.
Chang, J.H., Wada, M., Anderson, N.J., Lim Joon, D., Lee, S.T., Gong, S.J., Gunawardana,
D.H., Sachinidis, J., O’Keefe, G., Gan, H.K. and Khoo, V., 2013. Hypoxia-targeted
radiotherapy dose painting for head and neck cancer using 18F-FMISO PET: a biological
modeling study. Acta Oncologica, 52(8), pp.1723-1729.

Hinni, M.L., Ferlito, A., Brandwein‐Gensler, M.S., Takes, R.P., Silver, C.E., Westra, W.H.,
Seethala, R.R., Rodrigo, J.P., Corry, J., Bradford, C.R. and Hunt, J.L., 2013. Surgical margins
in head and neck cancer: a contemporary review. Head & neck, 35(9), pp.1362-1370.
Forte, T., Niu, J., Lockwood, G.A. and Bryant, H.E., 2012.
Incidence trends in head and neck cancers and human
papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer in Canada,
1992–2009. Cancer Causes & Control, 23(8), pp.1343-1348.
Kangas, M., Milross, C., Taylor, A. and Bryant, R.A., 2013. A pilot randomized controlled
trial of a brief early intervention for reducing posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and
depressive symptoms in newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients. Psycho
‐
Oncology, 22(7), pp.1665-1673.
Chuang, S.C., Jenab, M., Heck, J.E., Bosetti, C., Talamini, R., Matsuo, K.,
Castellsague, X., Franceschi, S., Herrero, R., Winn, D.M. and La Vecchia,
C., 2012. Diet and the risk of head and neck cancer: a pooled analysis in the
INHANCE consortium. Cancer Causes & Control, 23(1), pp.69-88.