Dr Crawford-Williams says this research will explore the barriers patients encounter to attend these post-treatment monitoring appointments, particularly for those living in rural and regional areas.

“Head and neck cancer monitoring can carry a significant financial burden for the patient, who may require many presentations each year to a major metropolitan treatment centre,” Dr Crawford-Williams says.

“Each monitoring visit requires the patient and their carer to organise time off work, modify childcare arrangements, and incur travel and sometimes accommodation costs…and we’re asking them to do this multiple times each year.

“Unfortunately, patients who have difficulty accessing care may delay or not attend their appointment and may let symptoms go longer before seeking care.

“This can mean options for treatment may be limited, or more intensive surgery is needed, if a cancer recurrence is detected.”

To improve accessibility for all patients, the research team will propose a re-design of the current head and neck cancer monitoring process to address the barriers patients face in cancer surveillance. This work will be carried out in collaboration with Flinders Medical Centre’s Ear Nose and Throat team – led by Dr Woods and Associate Professor Eng Ooi.

It includes seeking the views of clinicians and patients on whether using technologies such as telehealth appointments and electronic symptom monitoring, and linking in with local GP services, could provide options to support cancer monitoring for some patients, some of the time.

“Having a head and neck cancer monitoring system that registers patient symptoms and then signals if the patient may be suitable for a telehealth or GP-assisted review, could remove the need for patients to take time away from work and family to travel hundreds of kilometres, sometimes several times a year, for a relatively brief in-person hospital appointment,” Dr Woods says.