Researchers surveyed over 1,400 healthcare workers at 663 hospitals worldwide to see how many cancer centers prepare patients before surgery. They found that only about 1 in 5 hospitals routinely help all cancer patients get physically fit, eat better, and manage stress before their operations. Most hospitals that do offer this preparation focus on nutrition and exercise. The biggest reason hospitals don’t offer these programs? Money and lack of staff. This study shows that even though preparing patients before surgery can reduce complications, many hospitals still aren’t doing it.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How many cancer hospitals around the world help patients prepare their bodies before surgery, and what types of preparation they offer
  • Who participated: 1,409 healthcare workers from 663 hospitals in different countries, including doctors, nurses, and other staff who work with cancer patients
  • Key finding: Only 21% of hospitals make pre-surgery preparation a standard practice for all cancer patients. About 30% offer it to some patients. The most common preparations are nutrition counseling (36%), exercise programs (30%), and mental health support (24%)
  • What it means for you: If you’re facing cancer surgery, ask your hospital whether they offer pre-surgery preparation programs. These programs may help you recover faster and have fewer complications, but you may need to request them since many hospitals don’t offer them automatically

The Research Details

Researchers created an online survey and sent it to cancer centers around the world between November 2023 and February 2024. They asked healthcare workers about whether their hospitals help cancer patients prepare before surgery, what types of preparation they offer, and what stops them from offering these programs. The survey included hospitals from different regions and income levels to see if preparation practices varied by location and resources.

The researchers organized the responses by geographic region and whether hospitals were in wealthy or lower-income countries. This helped them understand whether hospitals in richer areas offered more preparation programs than hospitals in poorer areas. They looked at what barriers prevented hospitals from offering these programs to all patients.

This type of survey is important because it shows what’s actually happening in real hospitals, not just what research says should happen. Understanding current practices helps identify gaps between what science recommends and what hospitals actually do. This information can help hospital leaders decide where to invest resources and can guide future guidelines for cancer care.

This study has good strengths: it included many hospitals from different countries and income levels, giving a global picture. However, it has some limitations: the survey only captured what people reported, not what actually happens in practice. The survey may have attracted hospitals more interested in pre-surgery preparation, so the real percentage of hospitals offering these programs might be even lower. Also, the survey was voluntary, so some hospitals may not have participated.

What the Results Show

The survey found huge differences in how cancer hospitals prepare patients before surgery. Only 21.1% of the 663 hospitals surveyed said they offer pre-surgery preparation to all cancer patients as standard practice. Another 29.9% offer it only to certain patients, usually those at higher risk of complications. This means about half of hospitals either don’t offer preparation or only offer it sometimes.

When hospitals do offer preparation, nutrition support is most common (36.2% of hospitals), followed by exercise programs (29.7%), and mental health support (23.8%). Some hospitals offer combinations of these approaches, while others focus on just one area.

The biggest reason hospitals don’t make pre-surgery preparation standard care is money and staffing—39.4% of hospitals said lack of funding and resources was the main barrier. Another 10.6% said their hospital leadership simply wasn’t interested in starting these programs.

The study revealed major differences between regions. Middle Eastern and North African hospitals made up 57.3% of respondents, while only 2.9% came from North and Latin America. This suggests the survey may not fully represent all regions equally. Hospitals in different income levels also showed different practices, though the survey didn’t provide detailed breakdowns of these differences. The findings suggest that wealthier hospitals may have more resources to offer preparation programs, but even some wealthy hospitals don’t prioritize them.

Previous research has shown that helping cancer patients prepare before surgery—through exercise, better nutrition, and stress management—can reduce complications and speed recovery. Despite this evidence, this survey shows that most hospitals haven’t made these programs routine. This gap between what research recommends and what hospitals actually do is a common problem in healthcare. The study suggests that knowing something works isn’t enough; hospitals need funding, staff, and leadership support to actually implement programs.

This survey relied on people’s reports rather than observing actual hospital practices, so answers may not be completely accurate. The survey was voluntary, meaning hospitals more interested in pre-surgery preparation may have been more likely to respond, which could make the numbers seem better than reality. The survey didn’t ask detailed questions about the quality of preparation programs or how many patients actually completed them. Also, the geographic distribution was uneven, with most responses from the Middle East and North Africa, so results may not represent all regions equally.

The Bottom Line

If you’re scheduled for cancer surgery, ask your medical team whether they offer pre-surgery preparation programs. Research suggests these programs—especially those combining exercise, nutrition, and mental health support—may help you recover better. If your hospital doesn’t offer formal programs, ask about resources like physical therapy, nutrition counseling, or mental health support that you could pursue on your own before surgery. (Confidence: Moderate—while evidence supports these programs, individual results vary)

Cancer patients facing surgery should definitely ask about pre-surgery preparation. Older patients and those with other health conditions may benefit most. Hospital administrators and cancer center leaders should care about this research because it shows a gap between what evidence supports and what they’re currently offering. Healthcare policymakers should care because it highlights the need for funding and guidelines to support these programs.

Pre-surgery preparation typically works best when started 4-8 weeks before surgery, though even shorter programs can help. You may notice improved fitness and energy within 2-3 weeks. The real benefits show up after surgery—faster healing, fewer complications, and quicker return to normal activities. Long-term benefits may include better overall health and fitness.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If your hospital offers pre-surgery preparation, track your weekly exercise minutes, nutrition goals (like protein intake), and mental health check-ins. Set a goal like 150 minutes of moderate activity per week and track daily. Also monitor how you feel—energy levels, mood, and sleep quality—as these often improve with preparation.
  • Use the app to schedule and log pre-surgery preparation activities: set reminders for exercise sessions, log meals to track nutrition, and complete brief mental health check-ins. Create a pre-surgery preparation plan with your medical team and track progress toward each goal. Share your progress with your healthcare provider.
  • Track three main areas: physical activity (minutes per week), nutrition (protein intake, meals logged), and mental wellness (mood ratings, stress levels). Create a dashboard showing progress toward pre-surgery goals. After surgery, continue tracking recovery milestones like return to walking, return to work, and overall energy levels to see the impact of your preparation.

This research describes current hospital practices, not medical advice. Before cancer surgery, work with your medical team to develop a personalized preparation plan appropriate for your specific situation, health conditions, and type of cancer. Pre-surgery preparation programs should only be done under medical supervision. Always consult your oncologist or surgeon before starting any exercise program or making significant dietary changes before surgery. This survey reflects what hospitals reported, not necessarily what’s best for individual patients.