US wait times for cancer surgeries are getting longer and longer
Summary
In the U.S., wait times for surgery in six common types of cancer have grown longer over the past decade. A study found delays increased steadily from 2012 to 2023, which can lead to worse health results and more stress for patients.Key Facts
- The study looked at over 2.7 million cancer patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2023.
- Cancer types studied included breast, colon, lung, pancreatic, gastric, and esophageal cancers.
- Wait times for surgery increased for all six cancers; for example, breast cancer waits rose from 34 to 45 days.
- More patients experienced long waits of over 30 and even 60 days.
- Increased wait times happened as healthcare systems centralized cancer care into large, specialized centers.
- Patients who were uninsured, on Medicaid, Black, lower-income, or lived far from treatment centers faced longer waits more often.
- Researchers suggest expanding patient capacity and improving scheduling at big centers to reduce delays.
- They recommend only referring complex cases to high-volume centers to avoid unnecessary delays for simpler surgeries.
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