Head & Neck Cancer Support Group

Richard Eggleton, Consultant Maxillofacial Prosthetist was honoured to be asked to talk at the Portsmouth Head & Neck Support Group on Monday 13th July, 2026. The group members are all victims of Head & Neck cancer from Hampshire, West Sussex, Isle of Wight and surrounding areas. They meet every second Monday of each month in a local church hall. The group are attached to Queen Alexandra Hospital and work closely with the cancer nurses and dietitians, who regularly attend the meetings.

The friendly group makes everyone feel comfortable to open up, laugh, cry and receive support and understanding without feeling any shame or embarrassment – all are made very welcome as after all everyone is or has been diagnosed with cancer and received treatment or surgery. The more extreme disfiguring cases require the expert services of the Healthcare Partners Maxillofacial Team who provide an invaluable service to these Portsmouth patients. Friends and family are welcome to attend the group meetings and are encouraged to participate, perhaps sharing their caring experiences for relatives or friends.

The group is financed through charitable trust funds and therefore welcomes donations. Raffles are run to pay for tea and coffee and general funding of meetings. Funds have been used in the past to help assist with purchases the NHS has not been able to cover – specialist ‘voice boxes’ for laryngectomy patients for instance.

The group doesn’t tend to meet socially, but does enjoy a fun quiz at Easter and Christmas. From time to time speakers are invited adding themed interest on associated Head & Neck Cancer. I was pleased to be invited, and managed to keep the group interested for almost two hours. I described how I first became interested in my career 52 years ago, my experience gained through various hospitals, career pathway, and personal patient care experience and trust. The members expressed it would have been helpful if someone like me had been available to them post-surgery to explain their treatment pathway, obstacles, and available options.

Some of the feedback from those attending the presentation:

“Thank you Fran for organising Richard. I thought he was brilliant.”

“Lovely to see you all. Very interesting talk. Many thanks Fran for inviting Richard. Really lovely caring man – obviously brilliant at what he does.”

“He is extremely versatile in his field. He was the best speaker we have had in my time at Head & Neck Support Group.”

I was subsequently treated to lunch in a local Pub, The Red Lion, where I enjoyed scampi, chips and peas washed down by a zero alcohol Guinness. I was given a booklet of poems – Finding The Sunshine – written by a group member who describes her complete cancer journey in poetry from start to finish. One poem in particular stood out that describes a typical and frightening beginning of cancer:

LUMP
7th July 2020

Today I got up early
And went to see the Queen
No, it’s a hospital in Portsmouth,
And it took ages to be seen.

I’ve got a lump, right side of my neck,
The consultant thinks it’s strange,
So I had some needle tests to check,
Now life has to re-arrange.

I’m going to go back next week
For biopsy and the such…
They don’t know if it’s a ‘nasty’ yet,
Watch this space, I’ll be in touch!

I am very fortunate to be part of a team that helps rehabilitate these unfortunate people who need our help in rebuilding their quality of life.