Every month delayed in cancer treatment can raise risk of death by around 10%

[2greys]

Minimising delays to treatment could improve cancer survival rates, say researchers

People whose treatment for cancer is delayed by even one month have in many cases a 6 to 13% higher risk of dying – a risk that keeps rising the longer their treatment does not begin – suggests research published online in The BMJ.

Canadian and UK researchers found there was a significant impact on a person’s mortality if their treatment was delayed, whether that be surgical, systemic therapy (such as chemotherapy), or radiotherapy for seven types of cancer.

Globally, health systems have problems with cancer treatment delays and it is already widely accepted that such delays can have adverse consequences on a patient’s outcome. But the precise impact of delays from diagnosis to receipt of treatment on mortality has not been thoroughly analysed.

The need for better understanding of the impact of treatment delay on outcomes has come into focus during the COVID-19 pandemic because many countries have experienced deferral of elective cancer surgery and radiotherapy as well as reductions in the use of systemic therapies, while health systems have directed resources to preparing for the pandemic.

bmj.com/company/newsroom/ev...

[HungryHufflepuff]

I don't feel I want to 'like' this post, but thank you for posting it.

[Ergendl]

Sadly, no surprises there.