Head and Neck Cancer Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Western India

Objective: To assess the head and neck cancer (HNC) care during the COVID-19 pandemic by studying its demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical parameters.Materials and methods: All patients diagnosed with HNC who visited the Outpatient Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery from April 2021 to March 2022 were included in the study.A proforma was used to collect the demographic, socioeconomic, and data pertaining to their disease in terms of the stage of cancer.Results: A total of 26 cases received treatment during the study period.More than half the patients had studied only till the 10th standard, and about 46.15% of patients belonged to the lower middle class.Around 53.84% of patients had a delay in surgery, and 46.15% of patients had a delay in postoperative follow-up.Conclusion: Our study suggests a large number of HNC patients with a delay in cancer care due to the lockdown and restrictions imposed during the pandemic.The low socioeconomic status, coupled with a greater distance from the hospital for many patients, made routine OPD visits and follow-ups difficult, thus upstaging their disease and increasing the associated risks.