Second only to lung cancer, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women and a major cause of mortality in females in the US. Breast cancer is prevalent — in fact, an estimated 382,640 women in the US will get a breast cancer diagnosis this year alone.
The earlier breast cancer patients receive their diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the better. In its early stages, breast cancer is easier to treat, requires less intensive therapy, and supports better survival rates. Stage 1 breast cancer, where the tumor is small and is located only in the breast tissue, has a five-year overall survival rate of 90% — this means that women diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer would live more than five years past diagnosis.
Time is of the essence when it comes to breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and continuing care. And a healthcare facility with critical gaps in its nursing workforce will not be able to provide the timely support that breast cancer patients need. This article discusses how nursing shortages delay breast cancer treatment and the importance of supplemental nurses in reducing breast cancer treatment delays.
Why Nursing Shortages Cause Breast Cancer Treatment Delays
It’s no secret that nursing shortages gravely impact healthcare operations, and breast cancer care is no exception. Nursing shortages affect patients’ access to specialized care, prompting them to travel longer distances for diagnosis, treatment, and care, especially if they live in rural areas.
Breast cancer treatment delays have been caused by nursing shortages, including postponement of chemotherapy and radiation therapy appointments. The fewer oncology nurses there are on shift, the fewer treatment slots there are for breast cancer patients, which can impact their overall cancer care journey.
Fewer oncology nurses on board also means that breast cancer patients have fewer experienced eyes on them watching for signs of complications and infections, which can prolong patients’ hospital stays and impact their overall health.
The Survival Risk of a 30-Day Delay in Breast Cancer Surgery
Breast cancer patients who seek cancer care treatment and support in healthcare facilities that have fewer oncology nurses are at risk of getting delayed care. A delay in crucial treatment, such as surgery to remove malignant tumors, can increase one’s mortality risk. A September 2026 study found that patients who experience delays of 60 to 89 days prior to getting surgical interventions had significantly poorer survival rates compared to those who had surgery within 30 to 59 days. It’s important to note that there was no significant difference in overall survival for those who got surgery within 30 to 59 days and those who got surgery within 30 days of diagnosis.
A delay in getting chemotherapy also impacts patient outcomes. A study found that patients diagnosed with early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer and waited over 30 days post-surgery to start chemotherapy had higher chances of cancer recurrence and reduced survival rates compared to those who got chemotherapy within 30 days post-surgery.
How Supplemental Nurses Help Reduce Breast Cancer Treatment Delays
To provide quality care to breast cancer patients, facilities must have a steady supply of oncology nurses to help patients at every step of their cancer care journey. It’s not enough to get new and talented nurses on board — they have to be qualified and receive the necessary training needed to administer chemotherapies, high-risk therapies, and other cancer care tasks.
At Meda Health, we help healthcare facilities by supplying qualified oncology nurses, especially during high-demand seasons and to fill vacancies. In doing so, hospitals can continue providing comprehensive cancer screening, follow-up, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and post-surgery care. With a steady supply of qualified oncology nurses, the likelihood of breast cancer treatments being postponed due to nursing shortages will be reduced.
Having enough nurses on the floor can also ensure medication is administered properly and efficiently, help spot complications and infections, and assist patients with interdepartmental needs. This ensures that patients won’t experience longer wait times and will not experience unnecessarily prolonged hospital stays. They are also crucial when it comes to educating patients about side effects and important symptoms they should be on the lookout for, which can prompt patients to seek emergency care if necessary at any point in the treatment process.
With adequate supplemental nurses on the floor, core nursing staff will also greatly benefit, as this decreases their workload, reduces work fatigue, promotes healthy patient-to-nurse ratios, and lowers burnout and turnover rates. Additional nurses can also allow core nursing staff to take breaks, which positively impacts their mental and physical health.