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Head and Neck Cancer
April 24, 2026

Patient Group Spotlight: The Swallows with Chris Curtis

Chris Curtis shares his head and neck cancer journey, the mission behind The Swallows, and why patient-led support and access must improve.

Guest: Chris Curtis — Founder, The Swallows

"I thought my world was ending. Today, I feel like I won the lottery."

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Curtis, founder of The Swallows, a global head and neck cancer support charity. Chris's journey began on Friday the 13th with a lump on his neck and a diagnosis he had never heard of. What followed was a dark tunnel of depression, a 12-stone weight loss, and a total re-evaluation of what matters in life.

Chris used his background in marketing to build a brand that now supports over 14,500 patients and caregivers worldwide. From creating the global Burgundy and Cream colors for head and neck cancer to improving how patients find clinical trials, Chris is proof that the loudest voice in healthcare should always be the patient's.

Key Takeaways

  • The Two Little Words: how a diagnosis changes life for bad and, unexpectedly, for good.
  • The Gap in Care: why head and neck cancer requires unique psychological and dental support that is often missing from standard pathways.
  • A Global Support System: how The Swallows provides around-the-clock support, from support boxes to non-verbal text services.
  • Clinical Trials Access: Chris explains his 3-click system to help patients find live trials without needing a scientific background.
  • Small Wins, Big Moments: the emotional reality of being able to eat a biscuit or lick a stamp for the first time in years.

    • Timestamps

  • 0:00 - Introduction: meaningful change in head and neck cancer.
  • 1:18 - Friday the 13th: the moment the diagnosis hit.
  • 3:54 - The information gap: why Dr. Google can be a dangerous path.
  • 8:08 - The turning point: moving from the dark tunnel to advocacy.
  • 10:34 - Re-evaluating life: why marketing did not matter, but purpose did.
  • 12:45 - 14,500 strong: the global reach of The Swallows.
  • 16:34 - Funding and pharma: why the patient voice is a product's best ally.
  • 23:31 - The unmet needs: the fight for free dental care and psychological support.
  • 26:26 - Clinical trials: making recruitment simple for the average person.
  • 30:43 - The biscuit story: why the small things are actually the big things.
  • 34:17 - You are not alone: Chris's message to the newly diagnosed.

    • Resources Mentioned

  • The Swallows Website: www.theswallows.org.uk
  • Mobile App: Search The Swallows on Apple or Android.
  • Contact: info@theswallows.org.uk

    • Watch and Follow

  • Main episode: https://youtu.be/xuR2Cuh_Wg0
    • Th
    The Swallows

    About the Organization

    We are a nationwide Head and Neck Cancer Charity We are known as “The Swallows Head and Neck Cancer Group” because of the difficulty a lot of people have with swallowing, this group is designed to provide help with patients and carers. The Swallows was formed by like minded cancer patients to help and support fellow sufferers and their carers. If you are looking for support please come to our meeting

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    Shorts

    Turning Cancer Pain into a Global Mission

    Chris Curtis shares how he turned a life-changing diagnosis into a global support mission for head and neck cancer patients and families.

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    The 30 Seconds That Changed My Life Forever

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    You Don't Know What You Don't Know

    A powerful reflection on the information gap after diagnosis and why patients need trusted, human guidance from day one.

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    The Biggest Unmet Need in Cancer Care

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