Frosch et al identified predictors for a delay in the start of cancer therapy. These can help to identify a patient who may require additional resources to start therapy. The authors are from Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.
Patient: recently diagnosed cancer
Outcome: delay in starting cancer therapy > 60 days
Factors associated with a greater risk for delay:
(1) Black or other (not Asian, Black, Pacific Islander or White)
(2) living in most disadvantaged neighborhoods
Factors associated with no delay:
(1) treated at the institution where the diagnosis was made
(2) first malignant neoplasm
(3) no or low comorbidity
(4) Asian, Pacific Islander, or White
(5) private insurance
