A qualitative study delved into the complicated nature of establishing oncologic care for head and neck cancer. A few common, if unsurprising, themes emerged. First, a stopgap is getting in to see a primary care physician or dentist in a timely manner once symptoms emerge. Even then, there needs to be a clear sense of urgency communicated to specialized physicians receiving the referrals. From there, the triage pathway is fragmented, meaning several steps must happen, some sequentially and some in parallel, which can be very confusing to patients and their support system. Finally, ease of communication with the healthcare team works wonder in alleviating patient anxiety throughout an often arduous work-up. | Batool, JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2024
