US Cancer Surgery Delays Hit Decade High, Amplifying Disparities
A JAMA Surgery study of over 2.7 million non-metastatic cancer patients shows US wait times for six cancer surgeries (breast, colon, lung, pancreatic, gastric, esophageal) increased from 2012–2015 to 2022–2023, reaching a 10-year high (e.g., breast 34→45 days; colon 20→31; lung 41→53; pancreatic 23→32; gastric 35→49; esophageal 38→48). Proportions with 30+ and 60+ day waits grew across all cancer types as care centers consolidated into high-volume facilities. While centralization can improve outcomes, delays may arise and disproportionately affect uninsured/Medicaid, Black patients, lower-income groups, and those farther from treatment centers. Authors suggest expanding capacity and refining referrals to balance efficiency with benefits, especially for straightforward cases where delays offer little clinical gain.