ESTRO 2025 - Abstract Book

S1123

Clinical – Head & neck

ESTRO 2025

References: 1. Bossi, P. et al. Paranasal sinus cancer. Crit. Rev. Oncol. Hematol. 2016, 98, 45–61. 2. Mirandola A et al. A Patient Selection Approach Based on NTCP Models and DVH Parameters for Definitive Proton Therapy in Locally Advanced Sinonasal Cancer Patients. Cancers (Basel). 2022 May 28;14(11):2678. doi: 10.3390/cancers14112678. PMID: 35681661; PMCID: PMC9179408. 3. Pasalic D et al. Patient-reported outcomes, physician-reported toxicities, and treatment outcomes in a modern cohort of patients with sinonasal cancer treated using proton beam therapy. Radiother Oncol. 2020 Jul;148:258-266. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2020.05.007. Epub 2020 May 15. PMID: 32417351.

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Digital Poster Financial toxicity in Romanian head and neck cancer patients – a cross-sectional study Renata Zahu 1,2 , Daniela Sturzu 1 , Monica E Chirilă 1,3 , Andrei Ciobanu 4 , Gabriela Ciobanu 4 , Noemi Besenyodi 5 , Madalina Vesel-Pop 5 , Flavius Coșer 5 , Roxana Costache 6 , Gabriel Kacso 1,2 1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Amethyst Radiotherapy Centre, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 2 Department of Medical and Radiation Oncology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hațieganu”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 3 Department of Clinical Development, MVision AI, Helsinki, Finland. 4 Department of Radiation Oncology, Amethyst Radiotherapy Centre, Timișoara, Romania. 5 Department of Radiation Oncology, Amethyst Radiotherapy Centre, Alba-Iulia, Romania. 6 Department of Radiation Oncology, Amethyst Radiotherapy Centre, Bucuresti, Romania Purpose/Objective: Cancer patients benefit from publicly reimbursed investigations and treatments. However, they usually experience a decrease in their income after diagnosis and have additional disease-related costs that are not currently covered by the health insurance. Financial challenges add a secondary burden and can negatively influence the outcomes by delaying or omitting treatment (1-3). The aim of this study was to assess the out-of-pocket expenses of Romanian head and neck (HN) cancer patients who received radiotherapy. Material/Methods: HN cancer patients who completed radiotherapy with curative intent in 4 Romanian private clinics from August 2023 to November 2024 were invited (directly or by email) to fill in a 23-items questionnaire. The participation was voluntary and anonymous. Disease location, socio-demographic characteristics, financial aspects, and personal perspectives were assessed, and the data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: We received answers from 69 participants, having a median age of 61 years (range 28-88). The anatomical location of the disease was larynx (N=16; 23.2%) oral cavity (N=12; 17.4%), nasopharynx (N=14: 20.3%), or oropharynx (N=12; 17.4%). The majority were males (N-51; 73.9%), lived in urban areas (N=41; 59.4%), had an education level of at least high school (N=52; 75.4%), were married (N=47; 68.1%) and had Romanian ethnicity (N=60; 87%). Most of the respondents were not working at the date of diagnosis, being either retired (N=29; 42%) unable to work (N=7; 10.1%) or unemployed (N=5; 7.2%). Most participants (N=42; 60.9%), had public insurance only (N=68; 98.6%), and an income below 1000 euros/month (N=56; 81.2%). All patients received radiation therapy as part of their multidisciplinary treatment, three quarters received systemic therapy (N=52; 75.4%) and half received surgery (N=32; 46.4%). Most patients admitted having various out-of-pocket expenses for at least one of the following categories: work-up (N=36; 52.2%), transport (N=63; 91.5%), accommodation (N=37; 53.7%), managing treatment’s side effects (N=35; 50.7%), or nutritional supplements (N=58; 84.1%). Other expenses, mostly dental interventions, were mentioned by 24 (34.8%) participants (Figure 1). From the patients that were working before diagnosis (N=27; 39.1%), the majority (N=24) ceased their income-generating activity and only 4 came back to work at the time of the analysis. One third searched for financial support from friends and relatives (N=23; 33.3%), one fifth addressed the