US Cancer Surgery Wait Times Increasing, New Study Finds

Between 2012 and 2023, cancer patients in the United States faced steadily increasing wait times for surgical interventions across six non-metastatic cancer categories, according to a large-scale study published in JAMA Surgery.

In Plain English: The Clinical Takeaway

• Treatment Delay: The time interval between a confirmed cancer diagnosis and the execution of primary tumor resection surgery has lengthened consistently over the past decade.
• Affected Populations: The study tracked stage I through III non-metastatic tumors across six common malignancies, including breast, colon, lung, pancreatic, gastric, and esophageal cancers.
• Clinical Impact: Timeliness remains a core metric of healthcare quality, as extended intervals between diagnosis and surgical resection are consistently linked in medical literature to diminished survival probabilities and heightened psychological distress.

Longitudinal Analysis of 2.7 Million Patient Records

To measure changes in access speed accurately, the investigation led by Timothy Donahue divided the twelve-year span from 2012 to 2023 into four distinct cohorts: 2012–2015, 2016–2019, 2020–2021, and 2022–2023. By comparing these periods using data from the National Cancer Database—a national data repository from the American College of Surgeons—researchers identified a clear upward trajectory in the number of days elapsing before primary tumor resection.

“What was striking was the consistency,” said Tim Donahue, senior author on the study and a surgical oncologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, in findings covered by STAT News. “Across every cancer we studied, patients are waiting longer today than they were a decade ago.” While oncological advancements have steadily improved overall survival probabilities, these operational delays introduce a counterbalancing risk to patient prognoses.

Study Parameter	Clinical Detail
Data Repository	National Cancer Database (American College of Surgeons)
Cohort Size	Over 2.7 million patients diagnosed with stage I through III non-metastatic tumors
Time Span Evaluated	2012 to 2023, segmented into four distinct operational cohorts
Cancer Categories	Breast, colon, lung, pancreatic, gastric, and esophageal malignancies
Primary Finding	Consistent upward trajectory in days elapsed between confirmed diagnosis and surgical intervention

Institutional Bottlenecks and Thoracic-Gastrointestinal Pathways

The analysis specifically tracked thoracic and gastrointestinal malignancy pathways, where timely resection is often paramount to preventing local invasion or micrometastatic dissemination.

Waiting for treatment to start can be an excruciating period for patients, filled with fears that the disease is progressing or spreading to a point where therapies become less effective.

Contraindications & When to Consult a Doctor

Conclusion

References

• Donahue, T., et al. Longitudinal Trends in Surgical Wait Times for Non-Metastatic Cancers. JAMA Surgery.
• American College of Surgeons. National Cancer Database Participant User File.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.

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