If you signed up to be on my update mailing list, and filled in the age response, you are part of the following age demographics table. Hopefully, you filled in the age for the patient you are trying to help, if you are not the patient! Since some folks have provided this information, I feel that it is good to let new visitors to the site take a look at it. It may help them to realize that they are not alone, and also encourage them to add their own information!

N E W - I received an email a while back from an elderly man who brought up a valid point - an "over 60" class does not break down the statistics very well. I pondered this for a bit, and couldn't come up with an easy way to address it at the time. Well... being a web surfing nut, I am always on the lookout for better ways of doing things. I ran across a nice utility for doing surveys, and decided to design my own that would immediately update the demographics chart once you submit the data. The result is the new table on the front page of this site. All you need to do to add the age info (age of patient when diagnosed), is select the appropriate age category, and hit "Submit !" It can't get any easier than that, now can it?

If you entered age information when you signed up for my mailing list, I would ask that you please re-enter it in the new table. The new entry method will be a lot easier for everyone, and it no longer relies solely on those who want to sign up for the email list. Thanks!

If everybody provides this information, we can get a picture of the average age, and age range for those of us being diagnosed. I think this will be interesting because all my docs tell me this disease is predominantly found in the older population. I don't know how accurate the current stats are that are available in the medical community, but I think the average age for people that research on the net (like you!) will be younger than the actual H&N cancer stats may indicate, and this chart may well reflect that . . . That is why it is important for anyone researching for an older loved one or friend to indicate that loved one's age, and not their own age! I realize this is not a bonafide statistical survey, but at least we can see how the distribution for site visitors looks . . . Please be assured that this information is nameless and private.