A new study has found that older patients with early- to mid-stage colon or lung cancer can achieve comparable short-term surgical outcomes when treated at local rural hospitals as opposed to larger urban medical centers, challenging the assumption that better results are always tied to metropolitan facilities.

The research, published online on February 11 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, examined whether patients aged 65 years and older could safely undergo cancer surgeries closer to home in rural settings.

The study was led by Dr. Michael E. Egger from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, along with his research team, who analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database. The analysis included 10,383 rural patients diagnosed with stage I to III colon cancer and 6,006 rural patients with stage I to III lung cancer.

Findings revealed no clinically significant differences between rural and urban facilities in terms of patient demographics, cancer stage at diagnosis, or comorbidity risks. Importantly, mortality and post-surgical complication rates were also found to be similar across both settings, suggesting that appropriately equipped rural hospitals can deliver effective surgical care for selected cancer patients.

One of the key distinctions highlighted by the researchers was travel burden. Patients who sought treatment at urban hospitals had to travel significantly longer distances compared to those treated locally. For colon cancer patients, the average travel distance was 49 miles to urban centers versus 16 miles to rural facilities. Similarly, lung cancer patients traveled an average of 61 miles for urban treatment compared to 35 miles for rural care.

Experts noted that extended travel times and associated costs can pose a substantial challenge for older adults living in rural communities, particularly those requiring frequent medical visits and follow-up care.

Commenting on the findings, Egger stated that as healthcare systems increasingly move toward regionalized and centralized care models, it will be crucial to identify which patients can safely receive treatment locally and which may benefit from more specialized, centralized care.

The study underscores the potential role of rural hospitals in expanding access to cancer surgery while reducing logistical and financial burdens for elderly patients, without compromising short-term clinical outcomes.