Underserved Communities Face Significant Delays in Cancer Treatment Initiation, Study Reveals
A qualitative study focusing on breast cancer patients in an underserved urban community, specifically Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, has highlighted significant disparities in the time to treatment initiation (TTI). The study, which reviewed 30 patient cases from 2019 to 2024, found that patients in under-resourced communities disproportionately experience delays in starting cancer treatment. These delays are primarily attributed to structural challenges and social determinants of health (SDOH), such as financial burdens, transportation issues, and childcare challenges. Black and Hispanic patients, in particular, experienced longer intervals to first treatment compared to White and non-Hispanic patients, with delays of 7 and 11 days longer, respectively. Uninsured patients also faced significantly longer delays for surgery and radiation treatments. While some delayed patients expressed a preference for more time to prepare mentally and logistically, the majority, including both delayed ... 
