ArticleCancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.)2026
Timeliness of Colorectal Cancer Care in Veterans: The Role of Travel Distance.
Article in Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Timeliness of Colorectal Cancer Care in Veterans: The Role of Travel Distance.Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundRural patients experience healthcare disparities due to multiple factors including travel distance. However, the impact on colorectal cancer (CRC) care for Veterans remains undefined.
aimsWe aimed to describe the association between distance and timeliness of care for Veterans with CRC. METHODS AND
resultsWe assembled a retrospective cohort of Veterans with Stage I-III CRC who underwent resection at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) between 2001 and 2018. Time from diagnosis to initiation of treatment, length of stay, 30-day readmissions and mortality were compared based on distance (≤ 40 mi; 41-100 mi, and > 100 mi). Among 375 patients, the median travel distance was 67.9 mi and median time to treatment initiation was 33 days. In a multivariable linear regression adjusted for age, stage, year of surgery, race and co-morbidities, the time to initial treatment was 11.8 days longer for patients > 100 mi away compared to those who live within 40 mi (CI 1.4-22.1, p = 0.026). No significant difference was observed for patients within 40 mi vs. 41-100 mi away (0.13 days, CI -9.4 to 9.8, 0.98). Common contributors to delays > 60 days included transitions from non-VAMC care, cardiac optimization and additional testing or treatment. There were no associations between distance and surgical length of stay, 30-day readmissions, or mortality.
conclusionTravel distance > 100 mi was associated with timeliness of care for Veterans, though no differences in clinical outcomes were observed. Distance-related outcome disparities may be mitigated through integrated, high-volume VA care system.
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