What is Head and Neck Cancer?
Head and neck cancer includes cancers that occur in the mouth, throat, voice box, nose, sinuses, and salivary glands. Detecting and treating these cancers early is important to have good results.
Disparities in Head and Neck Cancer
Disparities in head and neck cancer occur when some people have worse results than others based on factors like race, insurance status, and socioeconomic status. We will discuss some of these factors below.
Health insurance Status
People who do not have health insurance are often diagnosed at later stages. They may not be able to see a doctor on time, which can lead to delayed diagnosis. They are also less likely to receive the right treatments or to get treatment at hospitals that have experience in treating head and neck cancer, and they have worse survival. People with Medicaid insurance also face challenges because not every doctor or hospital accepts Medicaid insurance.
