9th International Congress on Oral Cancer in association with the 5th ASM of the Australian and New Zealand Head & Neck Society, Melbourne, Australia

Congress Patron

It is a pleasant and I hope productive task to be involved in this Congress as Patron. The International Congress on Oral Cancer and the Australian and New Zealand Head and Neck Society have dedicated their interests to the problem of oral cancer and head and neck cancer in general. Oral cancer in particular has a strong association with the use of tobacco and in some countries such as India and Papua New guinea where other substances are added and where there are nutritional and chronic disease problems, oral cancer is a huge problem and accounts for approximately 40% of all deaths from cancer. In most developed countries the rate is approximately 2% but despite considerable educational and legislative activities it appears that this is not decreasing. The organisers of this Congress have stressed the need for evidence based information and it is hoped that by the use of stringent criteria the information presented at this Congress will provide a more solid base for the variety of fields associated with oral and head and neck cancer so that advances can be made in the prevention and management of this group of cancers. By contributing to this Congress you should be able to network and to add to our knowledge so that much pain and suffering and use of precious resources can all be reduced.
I wish the organisers and the participants well in their endeavours.

Peter C Doherty, AC, FAA, FRS
Laureate Professor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
The University of Melbourne

Invitation from the Congress Chairman

It is with great pleasure that you are invited to attend the 9^th International Congress on Oral Cancer in association with the 5^th Annual Scientific Meeting of the ANZHNS, to be held in Melbourne, Australia from 16^th - 19^th November, 2003.
It is planned to provide a programme that covers the very diverse aspects of oral cancer from the basic biology, through conventional and alternative treatments to palliative care and rehabilitation. We hope that this inclusive approach to oral cancer, a major cause of disability and death in many parts of the world, will attract senior colleagues and trainees alike to attend the International Congress on Oral Cancer in Melbourne in 2003.
For rest and recreation, Melbourne provides a gateway to the natural marvels of Australia, from rugged deserts to rainforests and coral reefs, from koalas to platypuses, kangaroos, whales and penguins and from ancient to contemporary cultures.
We believe that this will be a unique and exciting meeting and look forward to welcoming you to Melbourne in 2003.

Professor Emeritus Peter C Reade
Congress Chairman

President of the Australian and New Zealand Head and Neck Society

The Australian and New Zealand Head and Neck Society is proud to be associated with the 9^th International Congress on Oral Cancer. Professor Peter Reade has shown admirable initiative, enthusiasm and foresight in bringing the Congress to Australia, and we are very pleased to be able to respond positively to his invitation to participate. This will be the first time that the ANZHNS has held a joint meeting, and we look forward to the added dimensions and opportunities that this offers.
The program should appeal to all practitioners involved in the care of patients with malignant diseases of the oral cavity, and we especially hope that "teams" of nurses, doctors, dentists and Allied Health workers will take this opportunity to attend. The content of the overseas and local Faculty assures us of a first-class multi-disciplinary congress on oral cancer without precedent in Australasia.
We hope you will join us for what promises to be a memorable meeting. And don't overlook the possibility of visiting other parts if you are coming from outside of the South Pacific. New Zealand (my home turf), and the states of Australia other than Victoria also have features worthy of the discerning visitor.

Professor Randall Morton
President Australian and New Zealand Head and Neck Society

Homepage: http://www.icms.com.au/oralcancer
c/- ICMS Pty Ltd, 84 Queensbridge Street, Southbank, Victoria 3006, Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9682 0244 , Facsimile: +61 3 9682 0288