Pinpointing barriers to timely head and neck cancer treatment in rural areas

MedicalXpress | апр 18, 2026

A new study led by researchers at Dartmouth Cancer Center pinpoints why many patients in rural areas experience delays in receiving critical follow-up treatment for head and neck cancer, and what can be done to address those gaps. Published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, the study examines factors that influence whether patients begin postoperative radiotherapy within the recommended six-week window after surgery, the timeframe known to improve survival for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.