Seventy-six percent of oncologists reported seeing an increasing number of patients presenting with advanced-stage cancer. Of those, 75% attributed the increase to screening barriers, according to a survey published May 13 by the Harris Poll on behalf of Quest Diagnostics.
The Harris Poll surveyed 174 medical oncologists and 76 surgical oncologists on their experiences with advanced-stage cancer diagnoses and recurrence between Aug. 6 and Sept. 4.
Here are five notes on their findings:
- Almost all oncologists surveyed (92%) expressed concern that economically disadvantaged or marginalized patients are unable to access quality cancer care.
- After attributing the increasing number of patients presenting with advanced-stage cancers to screening barriers, 48% of oncologists attributed the rise to the aging population, 43% to lifestyle factors and 32% to unknown factors.
- According to the survey, 79% of oncologists said they have had patients whose cancer recurrence was missed while still in the early disease stage.
Of those, 68% attributed the missed early-stage recurrence to patients missing, skipping or delaying follow-up care and monitoring appointments. - Patients skip or delay follow-up care and monitoring due to fear — of the testing procedure, the test results and/or more treatment — according to 62% of oncologists surveyed, closely followed by financial reasons or insurance limitations at 59%.
- Half of oncologists said early stage cancer recurrences are missed on imaging tests and 30% said they are missed on laboratory tests.
Of the survey respondents, 88% said minimal residual disease testing should be incorporated into the standard of care for monitoring cancer recurrence.
Read the full survey results here.
