MLT shortages can significantly impact healthcare delivery by causing delays in the delivery of test results, hindering timely diagnosis and treatment, potentially leading to poorer patient outcomes, particularly in an area like cancer detection where a swift diagnosis is critically important for optimal patient care. Biomarker testing and its importance for colorectal cancer patients will be discussed.

Patient support services delivered by patient advocacy groups, such as CCRAN, often help to fill unmet needs in a vulnerable cancer patient population. These services and ensuing advocacy efforts in response to the MLT Shortage will be thoughtfully discussed.