Crossing the US-Mexico border for cancer care: Which treatments are more sought-after?

Abstract

e18576 Background: Crossing the US-Mexico border to seek healthcare is common, but limited data is available regarding cross-border cancer care. Since access and availability differs between Mexico and the US, we investigated which therapies were sought by Mexico and US-based patients crossing the border to receive cancer care. Methods: An online survey was sent to oncologists in Mexican border states (Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Sonora, and Tamaulipas) using the Mexican Society of Oncology’s member directory. The survey was administered via REDCap in October-November 2022. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study was approved by the IRB of Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán. Results: Sixty-six respondents completed the survey (response rate 29.3%). Most were medical (n = 24, 36.4%) or surgical (n = 24, 36.4%) oncologists practicing in both public and private settings (71.2%), with almost a third practicing in Baja California (31.8%). Sixty respondents (90.9%) reported treating US patients seeking a second opinion in Mexico. Respondents reported patients traveled to receive various treatment modalities with curative surgery (64.4%) being the most common. Seven respondents (11.9%) had interacted with patients who traveled to Mexico seeking non-FDA approved therapies, including homeopathic/alternative treatments. Thirty-one respondents (47.0%) reported treating patients traveling to buy medications with oral chemotherapy (CT) (76.7%) being the most common. Fifty respondents (75.8%) reported treating Mexican patients who traveled to the US seeking a second opinion. Respondents reported patients traveled to receive immunotherapy (59.2%). Five respondents (10.2%) treated patients who traveled to the US to receive CAR-T cell therapy, not currently available in Mexico. Twenty respondents (30.8%) reported treating patients who traveled to buy medications, with oral CT (60%) being the most common. Conclusions: Mexican oncologists often treat patients seeking cross-border cancer care. Therapies sought by patients from both sides of the border differ, mostly due to local availability. Factors associated with these differences require further study to address disparities on health outcomes across the US-Mexico border. [Table: see text]