75% of oncologists attribute late-stage diagnoses to screening barriers: 5 survey notes

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:

1. Almost all oncologists surveyed (92%) expressed concern that economically disadvantaged or marginalized patients are unable to access quality cancer care. 

2. 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.
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
4. 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%.

5. 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.