United States cancer treatment wait times increase over last decade

A study published in JAMA Surgery reveals that wait times between cancer diagnosis and the start of treatment in the United States have increased by nearly two weeks over the last decade. Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Massachusetts General Hospital analyzed data from millions of patients diagnosed with six common types of cancer between 2012 and 2023.

Across all analyzed cancer types, median wait times grew by more than 10 days. The most significant increases were observed in stomach cancer, which rose from 35 to 49 days, and lung cancer, which increased from 41 to 53 days. Other notable delays occurred in breast, colon, pancreatic, and esophageal cancers. The study also noted a growing number of patients waiting 60 days or longer to begin treatment.

Medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel stated that the healthcare system ‘needs fixing immediately,’ noting that these delays are occurring even at high-volume academic medical centers. The data suggests structural issues within the system, with certain demographics—including Medicaid recipients, low-income individuals, Black patients, and those traveling long distances for care—facing disproportionately longer delays.