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

Chaimaa Elattabi (), Najoua Lamchabbek, Saber Boutayeb, Lahcen Belyamani, Inge Huybrechts, Elodie Faure and Mohamed Khalis
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Chaimaa Elattabi: Department of Public Health and Clinical Research, Mohammed VI Center for Research and Innovation, Rabat 10112, Morocco
Najoua Lamchabbek: Department of Public Health and Clinical Research, Mohammed VI Center for Research and Innovation, Rabat 10112, Morocco
Saber Boutayeb: Department of Public Health and Clinical Research, Mohammed VI Center for Research and Innovation, Rabat 10112, Morocco
Lahcen Belyamani: Department of Public Health and Clinical Research, Mohammed VI Center for Research and Innovation, Rabat 10112, Morocco
Inge Huybrechts: International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, 69366 Lyon, France
Elodie Faure: Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, Gustave Roussy, CESP, 94805 Villejuif, France
Mohamed Khalis: Department of Public Health and Clinical Research, Mohammed VI Center for Research and Innovation, Rabat 10112, Morocco

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 4, 1-16

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.

Keywords: cancer; tumor stage; travel distance; travel time; geographic access (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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