The impact of socioeconomic factors on survival in non-metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer

•Lower socioeconomic level (SES) is associated with lower survival rates in non-metastatic HNSCC, owing to delayed diagnosis and inadequate healthcare access.•Lower SES patients encounter obstacles related to insurance, transportation, and money that delay receiving prompt medical care.•Survivability gaps are made worse by limited access to cutting-edge medical care.•Improving patient education, financial assistance, and access to healthcare can all lead to better results.