Patients report that readiness for discharge after cancer surgery involves complex, evolving factors, and operational readiness often lags behind physiological and psychosocial recovery.

• In a study of 2,828 discharge milestones, physiological and psychosocial readiness reached 88% in the hours before discharge, while operational readiness only reached 58%.
• This asynchronous recovery highlights significant barriers in the discharge process that could be addressed to improve patient outcomes.

Surgeons may need to reassess their discharge protocols to enhance operational timelines and ensure a smoother transition for patients.