... WhatsApp

How Travel and Insurance Affect Liver Cancer Treatment and Survival

You are here >> Home > Latest Updates > Liver Cancer Updates > How Travel…

How Travel and Insurance Affect Liver Cancer Treatment and Survival

A large study has found that how far you live from a cancer center—and your insurance—can affect your treatment and chances of survival with liver cancer.

Researchers looked at data from nearly 200,000 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common type of liver cancer. They wanted to see how travel distance and insurance type impacted care.

Patients who traveled more than 30 km were more likely to receive treatment than those living closer. They were also more likely to be treated at academic hospitals, which often offer better care. In fact, people who traveled farther had the best 5-year survival—nearly 28%, compared to 18% for those living nearby.

But traveling came with downsides. The farther patients lived, the more likely they were to experience treatment delays. Still, better treatment access seemed to outweigh those delays in terms of survival.

Insurance also made a big difference. People with private insurance or Medicare were more likely to receive treatment and lived longer. Those with Medicaid or no insurance were less likely to get surgery or local treatments.

This study shows how where you live and your type of insurance can affect cancer outcomes. If you or someone you love is facing liver cancer, traveling to an academic center might offer better care. And making sure you have coverage that supports full treatment options is important.

Rate this post
Dr. Harsh J Shah

Exclusive Health Tips and Updates

Dr Harsh Shah - GI & HPB Oncosurgeon in India
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.