Venue:  NICVA, Duncairn Gardens, Belfast.

Please download the registration leaflet here

The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF), in association with the National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs, will be hosting a conference for laryngectomy patients, carers and health professionals on Wednesday 18th November at NICVA, Duncairn Gardens, Belfast.  The conference will cover a wide range of topics of interest to those affected by laryngeal or throat cancer.  The focus will be on quality of life issues and the practical aspects of living with the disease.  Please see a press release and conference programme attached.

Alex McGuiggan, a teacher from Bangor, was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in 1999 and is available to share his experiences of living as a laryngectomee following surgery to remove his voice box.  Alex also went on to have 33 sessions of radiotherapy and was able to return to full-time employment, 6 months after surgery.  Alex, who is now semi-retired, has been motivated to help other laryngectomy patients.  With the help of UCF Alex is a patient volunteer and has been trained to support and visit patients who are newly diagnosed and facing similar surgery.

Alex also regularly gives talks to the ambulance service, to trainee and qualified speech and language therapists and nursing and health professionals to highlight the best practice of treatment required by laryngectomy patients.    Alex has been awarded a BUPA Personal Achievement Award and £5,000 to support and develop his work nationally and in the community which he will be collecting at a ceremony on Thursday 19th November in London.