[Skip to Navigation]
Invited Commentary
November 1, 2018

Defining Optimal Treatment Times in Head and Neck Cancer Care: What Are We Waiting For?

Author Affiliations
  • 1Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle
JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;145(2):177-178. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2018.2838

Navigating patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) through their care is a challenge. Most patients will present with locoregionally advanced disease and, on average, a 5-year survival rate of 65%; this survival rate has increased slightly since the 1970s, but has remained stagnant for the last decade.1 Most patients will require multimodality treatment, including surgery, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy. This treatment regiment, itself, produces complications in 30% to 50% of patients.2,3

Add or change institution
×