Financial toxicity in head and neck cancer care: Current issues and future directions

• Financial toxicity worsens the quality of life and treatment outcomes for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. • High out-of-pocket costs and fragmented insurance increase the financial burden on HNC patients. • Financial stress causes psychological distress, leading to poor treatment compliance. • Reducing financial toxicity involves better support services, policy reforms, and price regulations. • Future efforts should integrate financial health into cancer care and enhance stakeholder collaboration.