The Impact of Travel Distance on Cancer Stage at Diagnosis for Cancer: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Geographic access to healthcare services can impact cancer outcomes. This paper reviews and updates the current evidence and gaps in the literature on the associations between travel distance and cancer stage. Methods: A search of electronic databases (PubMed, SpringerLink, and Science Direct) was conducted to identify studies published between 2015 and 2025. Studies examining the association between travel distance and cancer stage at diagnosis were included in this article. Results: From 19,197 studies, 11 articles met the inclusion criteria. In summary, four articles reported significant associations between travel distance/time and cancer stage, while six other articles did not report any association. Significant associations were observed in sub-Saharan Africa. In contrast, studies from Scotland, Canada, and the United States did not show significant relationships, while results from Japan varied, with papers showing either no significant impact of travel distance or indicating a correlation with advanced stages. Conclusions: This study suggests that longer travel distance is associated with advanced cancer stage in countries with healthcare access challenges and highlights the importance of healthcare accessibility in improving early cancer detection.