Whatever it is, the way you tell your story in this project can make all the difference.
Welcome
Tēnā koe / Tēnā koutou katoa
We appreciate your interest in this research study, which explores head and neck cancer survivorship in Aotearoa. This study seeks to understand the experiences, challenges, and support needs of survivors to help improve healthcare policies and survivorship care. We invite you to start the survey at this link. All the information you require can be found there. Please be aware the research project has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Victoria University of Wellington. If you are interested, please email Melanie Chan, the reseacher, melanieannemei-lin.chan@vuw.ac.nz
Key information for participants
🌿 Share Your Story – Help Shape the Future of Survivorship Support 🌿
We’re excited to support a unique and meaningful research project led by Melanie Chan, a PhD candidate at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. This project explores what helps people live well after head and neck cancer – and your voice is needed.
🖼️ The project uses “Photovoice”, a creative and respectful research method where you share a few photos (objects, places, or symbols – not necessarily of yourself) that represent your survivorship journey. These images become a starting point for small group or individual conversations.
🔎 The goal is to better understand the emotional, physical, and social aspects of living after head and neck cancer – to improve support and services across Aotearoa.
f you’ve been thinking about sharing your story, now is a great time to step forward. Your insights could truly make a difference for others.
📄 Melanie has provided clear, gentle guidance to help you feel confident about what’s involved. Here are the key documents for participants.
Questions and Answers about the research
Let’s work together to make sure every survivor feels seen, supported, and understood.
Ngā mihi nui,
Diana Ayling
Chair, Head and Neck Cancer Support Network Trust
What is this project all about?
This research study exploring head and neck cancer survivorship in Aotearoa. This study seeks to understand the experiences, challenges, and support needs of survivors to help improve healthcare policies and survivorship care. Click the button to find out more. If you are interested email melanieannemei-lin.chan@vuw.ac.nz
Who is the researcher?
Kia ora, my name is Melanie, and I am a two-time survivor of head and neck cancer, first diagnosed in 2019 and again in 2021. This experience deeply shaped my understanding of the long and often unseen journey that follows treatment and has given me a deeply personal understanding of the challenges that come with treatment and long-term survivorship.
Originally trained as a lawyer, I pursued a Master of Science in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health. This path was a step towards research that bridges clinical, psychological, and lived perspectives in cancer care. I am currently undertaking a PhD research focused on the survivorship experiences of people affected by head and neck cancer in Aotearoa.
I have also completed a Level 1 Certificate in Te Reo Māori, and I hope that this equips me to conduct research that is respectful, inclusive, and grounded in a commitment to equity. My research uses Photovoice, a participatory method that captures and reflects on our lived experiences through photography and storytelling. This approach honours individual voices and reveals what truly matters in recovery, allowing us to express our experiences in our voice and on our own terms, offering powerful insights into what matters most in our recovery.
I hope that this research will help shape more equitable, person-centred survivorship care that responds to the real needs of our community.
If you are interested in contributing to this research, please feel free to contact me:
melanieannemei-lin.chan@vuw.ac.nz
Ngā mihi nui.