● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 negative
US cancer surgery wait times increased for six cancer types between 2012 and 2023
Key points
- Study analyzed data from over 2.7 million cancer patients (2012-2023).
- Wait times increased for breast, colon, lung, pancreatic, gastric, and esophageal cancers.
- Breast cancer wait times rose from 34 to 45 days.
- Proportions of patients with waits over 30 and 60 days also increased.
Increasing Wait Times for Cancer Surgery
A recent study revealed a consistent increase in wait times for cancer surgeries in the United States over the past decade. Researchers analyzed data from more than 2.7 million patients diagnosed with non-metastatic stage I–III cancers requiring surgery between 2012 and 2023.
Specific Cancer Types Affected
The study, led by cancer expert Timothy Donahue at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that wait times for all six cancer types examined increased incrementally between four time periods: 2012–2015, 2016–2019, 2020–2021, and 2022–2023. For breast cancer, wait times rose from 34 days to 45 days. Colon cancer saw an increase from 20 days to 31 days, and lung cancer from 41 to 53 days. Pancreatic cancer wait times went from 23 days to 32 days, gastric cancer from 35 days to 49 days, and esophageal cancers from 38 days to 48 days.
Prolonged and Extreme Delays
Beyond the average increases, the study also identified a rise in the proportion of patients experiencing prolonged and extreme wait times. The rates of patients waiting 30 or more days for surgery increased across all cancer types, as did the rates for those facing "extreme" waits of 60 or more days.
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Reporting from
A new study found that wait times for cancer surgeries in the US have consistently increased over the last decade for six common cancer types. This trend indicates a worsening aspect of cancer care despite advancements in treatment and outcomes.