Oral Complications Related to Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Result in Financial Strain on Patients

Please note: In New Zealand, follow-up dental care is provided privately by the patient’s own dentist. Patients may or may not have health insurance to cover these costs.

Patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC) face substantial dental needs and related financial burden, with 45% reporting that their post-cancer dental care led to financial hardship, according to results from a survey published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery.

This study was conducted among members of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance who had undergone treatment for HNC. Out of 100 individuals who consented to participate, 85 people answered all of the questions and were included in the analysis.

The study revealed that the severe oral complications, including xerostomia, caries, and oral mucositis, that occurred among study participants following HNC treatment (i.e., concomitant chemoradiotherapy regimens, as per the authors) were not covered by most private medical insurers, despite the critical need for dental care, creating a barrier to necessary treatment.

Read more here….https://www.oncologynurseadvisor.com/news/head-neck-cancer-oral-complications-xerostomia-treatment-risk/