Language matters: assessing the role of language barriers in patient-reported experiences of breast cancer patients in Germany

Language barriers remain a critical but under-recognized determinant of cancer care quality in Germany. In the absence of standardized protocols for care of patients with language barriers, hospitals treating more linguistically diverse populations appear better equipped to navigate these challenges. These results point to an urgent need for national standards and targeted hospital-based strategies that systematically address language discordance, support guideline implementation, and promote equitable oncology care.