Latest news with #headandneckcancer
Medscape
23-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Key Drivers of High Costs in Head and Neck Cancer Care
TOPLINE: Advanced disease stage was the strongest predictor of high first-year healthcare costs in Canadian patients with head and neck cancer, a recent analysis found. Patients with stage IV disease had an almost ninefold greater likelihood for high healthcare costs than those with stage I disease. Combination treatments — especially surgery with adjuvant therapy — were also a major driver of high costs. METHODOLOGY: Patients with head and neck cancer experience considerable healthcare burdens due to aggressive and complex multimodal treatments, as well as long-term complications requiring rehabilitation and supportive care. Identifying predictors of high first-year costs can guide strategies to optimize resource use and improve patient outcomes. Researchers conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study using data from 13,795 Ontario, Canada, residents (mean age, 63.2 years; 25% women) who were diagnosed with head and neck cancer between January 2007 and October 2020. Researchers estimated total 1-year healthcare costs using a patient-level algorithm, with values adjusted to 2020 Canadian dollars (CAD), and identified predictors for high healthcare costs. Overall, 25% of patients were classified in the high-cost group (≥ 75th percentile; n = 3448), and 75% were classified in the low- or medium-cost group (< 75th percentile; n = 10,347). Patients in the high-cost vs low- or medium-cost groups were more likely to receive chemoradiotherapy (31.5% vs 19.0%), surgery with radiotherapy (20.0% vs 5.7%), or surgery with chemoradiotherapy (14.4% vs 4.1%), and were less likely to receive surgery alone (11.5% vs 27.4%) or radiotherapy alone (16.7% vs 26.1%). TAKEAWAY: Over 1 year, the biggest costs for patients in the high-cost group were inpatient stays (representing 41.0% of costs or CA$40,796 vs CA$5769 in the lower-cost group), outpatient visits (33.5% or $33,321 vs $16,953), physician services (12.5% or $12,436 vs $4959), complex and home care (8.7% or $8677 vs $1272), and drugs, devices, and lab tests (4.2% or $4208 vs $1576). Stage II (odds ratio [OR], 3.14), stage III (OR, 6.08), and stage IV (OR, 8.94) were associated with progressively greater odds of high healthcare costs than stage I disease. Combination treatment was associated with substantially greater odds of high costs than no treatment or palliative care (OR, 6.94 for surgery and radiotherapy; OR, 5.86 for surgery with chemoradiotherapy). Female sex (OR, 1.26) and older age (per each 10-year increase in age at diagnosis; OR, 1.07) were both associated with increased odds of high costs, as were diagnoses during the COVID pandemic (OR, 1.73) compared with prior years. IN PRACTICE: 'This cohort study found that more advanced disease stage and receiving multiple treatment modalities were the strongest predictors of high-cost care among patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer,' the authors of the study wrote. Potential solutions, they noted, include effective screening programs to promote earlier diagnosis, as well as interventions aimed at treatment de-escalation in appropriately selected patients. SOURCE: This study, led by Noémie Villemure-Poliquin, MD, MSc, Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was published online in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. LIMITATIONS: This study included only patients in Ontario, so findings may not be generalizable to other settings. Reliance on administrative data could have led to misclassification of disease severity and treatment types. Additionally, the analysis did not capture direct out-of-pocket costs. DISCLOSURES: This study received support through a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care. One author reported receiving personal fees from EMD Serono and nonfinancial support from Elekta. Another author reported receiving personal fees from Cancer Care Ontario. No other disclosures were reported. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Actor Julian McMahon's official cause of death revealed
Actor Julian McMahon is seen here in Pasadena, California, in January 2020. McMahon died from lung metastasis as a consequence of head and neck metastatic cancer. (Francis Specker/CBS/Getty Images via CNN Newsource) As friends and former costars continue to mourn actor Julian McMahon, more details about his death from cancer have been revealed in a new medical examiner's office report. The actor, 56, died from lung metastasis as a consequence of head and neck metastatic cancer, according to a cremation approval summary report from the medical examiner's office in Pinellas County, Florida. The report, obtained by CNN, said McMahon died on July 2. McMahon's wife Kelly McMahon announced on July 4 that her husband died 'peacefully… after a valiant effort to overcome cancer.' McMahon starred in the Ryan Murphy-created 'Nip/Tuck' and was also known for a pivotal role in TV's 'Charmed.' Additionally, he played Dr. Victor Von Doom in the 'Fantastic Four' movies costarring Jessica Alba and Chris Evans from 2005 and 2007. Alyssa Milano, who starred in 'Charmed' and was McMahon's character's onscreen spouse, wrote in a tribute last week on social media that she was 'heartbroken' to learn of his passing, calling her former costar 'magic.' 'That smile. That laugh. That talent. That presence. He walked into a room and lit it up—not just with charisma, but with kindness. With mischief. With soulful understanding,' she wrote. 'We were so different, and yet somehow we always understood each other.' Ioan Gruffudd, who costarred as Mister Fantastic opposite McMahon's Dr. Doom in the 'Fantastic Four' movies, also paid tribute to him on Instagram. 'Even though we played each other's nemeses, there was always so much lightness and laughter working together. Every encounter with him was a joy,' he wrote. By Dan Heching.
Irish Times
09-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Mortgage protection insurance cost soared and home sales fell through soared even after cancer all-clear
Stephen Breen's diagnosis of head and neck cancer in 2019 came as quite a surprise, but the Dublin man took his treatment very seriously and after six months of chemo, radiation and surgery, he was given the all-clear. He returned to life with a 'newfound vigour', he said, believing he was 'closing one tough chapter'. But when he and his wife began the process of trying to buy their own home earlier this year, he quickly realised the disease would continue to have an impact on his life. 'You go into that process very innocently. I've had no issues repaying loans or owing money. But quite quickly, what you learn is ... in order to go through the process of getting the finance in place, you need to get mortgage protection insurance in place,' the father of two said. 'But then this Hansel and Gretel paper trail becomes a huge part of your life. They want you to speak to a nurse, they want you to get a letter from your doctor, they want a letter from the consultant whose care you were under.' READ MORE He added: 'No matter how much of that paper trail I provided them with, it never seemed to suffice. It seems like the endless actuarial trail that never seems to enable the purchase of a property.' The 49-year-old and his wife sought mortgage protection insurance from four companies, but each of them told him he would be 'deferred' for six months. Several homes they wanted to purchase fell through as a result of this. Eventually after months of trying, he found one company who would provide him with mortgage insurance, but this was 'weighted' – and his insurance will cost him around 250 per cent more than if he had previously not had cancer. [ What's the right mortgage protection for you? Opens in new window ] On Tuesday, Cabinet agreed to bring forward legislation which will ensure that cancer survivors cannot be discriminated against when it comes to certain insurance products, specifically mortgage protection. The Programme for Government sets out plans for the legislation, known as the Right to be Forgotten, to require insurers to disregard a cancer diagnosis where treatment ended more than seven years before application, or more than five years if the applicant was under 18 at the time of diagnosis. In 2022, the Irish Cancer Society published research which found only one in four of those surveyed felt they were treated fairly when applying for such products. In response, in 2023, Insurance Ireland introduced a voluntary code of practice for underwriting mortgage protection insurance for cancer survivors. Under this, former cancer patients who are seven years cancer-free can apply for a mortgage of under €500,000. A review of the code, published in May 2025, indicated the voluntary code was working, the Department of Finance said. The move has been welcomed by the Irish Cancer Society, but they are calling for the legislation to ensure financial service providers disregard a cancer diagnosis five years after an applicant has completed their treatment, rather than seven which is currently stipulated in the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025. Consequently, for people like Mr Breen, the new legislation will have little impact. He is six years all clear, one year shy of when the new legislation will be applicable. He doesn't yet know whether the cost of his mortgage protection will be reduced once he reaches that seven-year mark. 'It's great to see a focus on this issue, but the challenge is they have to listen to the clinical professionals,' he said. 'What the doctors do is they say 'you're five years clear' and they discharge you, send you off and you think that's the end of it. If doctors say after five years, you're discharged. Why can insurance providers wait until seven years?'
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Blocked ears could be 'red flag' of deadly cancer - other symptoms to look out for
A GP has highlighted vital 'red flag' symptoms that might be evidence of cancer, like blocked ears, stressing that these signs are often overlooked. Head and neck cancers, found in the mouth, throat and nose, have become increasingly more prevalent. A staggering near 13,000 individuals across the UK face a diagnosis of head and neck cancers annually, as figures furnished by Cancer Research UK suggest a rise of over one-third in incidents since the 1990s. READ MORE: Husband dies of mystery condition six months after their wedding READ MORE: State pensioners to be stripped of key perk by 2030 with 500,000 affected Some experts attribute this upsurge to heightened incidences of human papillomavirus (HPV)—an infection that can actuate cancer yet frequently presents no symptoms. To combat a lack of awareness and promote early detection, top oncologist Dr Jiri Kubes is spreading the word on some of the leading indicators. Operating out of Prague's Proton Therapy Center, Dr Kubes asserts: "Earlier diagnosis is absolutely crucial. The sooner we can identify head and neck cancer, the better the outcome." He further reveals: "It is considered one of the fastest growing types of cancer in the world but there is still a worrying lack of awareness around head and neck tumours." He urges vigilance against red flag symptoms that might signify these dangerous cancers.
CTV News
01-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Program that helps cancer patients stop smoking available at LHSC
From left: Jennifer Murray (Nurse Practitioner, Cancer Care), Catherine Bond-Mills (Pharmacist, Pharmacy – Oncology and Renal), and Spencer Martin (Manager, Pharmacy – Oncology and Renal) in the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) is a program offered by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) which helps patients stop smoking. The program is now being offered in London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) to patients with head and neck cancers - although they already have a positive cancer diagnosis, it's important for those patients to quit smoking as it can improve outcomes. '[Smoking cessation] should be a high-priority intervention. We know it can take numerous attempts at quitting before patients can break the habit, and we also know that nicotine replacement therapy can double the chances of someone quitting successfully,' explained Jennifer Murray, Nurse Practitioner, Cancer Care at LHSC. 'Follow-up is critical in supporting patients in their goals given the chronic and relapsing patterns of tobacco addiction. With the STOP program, patients can now be connected to counselling surrounding their nicotine use and access nicotine replacement products.' Head and neck cancers include mouth, throat and voice box, but does not include brain, esophageal or lung cancers. Murray supports patients at LHSC's Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, and will identify patients that are smoking and interested in quitting. The program includes the provision of nicotine replacement therapy like patches, gum or losenges, as well as counselling - providing up to 26 weeks of services free of charge. The program is more than counselling, it requires the support of several healthcare workers, 'Pharmacists play a critical role by offering personalized smoking cessation counselling, assessing patient readiness to quit and helping develop tailored plans to quit,' said Interim Pharmacy Manager Spencer Martin, who cares for patients in oncology and renal medicines at LHSC. 'The STOP program allows us to take a more proactive role in a patient's smoking cessation journey – a critical, but often under addressed aspect of patient care in cancer populations.'
