Utilisation of Radiotherapy in Rural and Urban Areas in British Columbia Compared with Evidence-based Estimates of Radiotherapy Needs for Patients with Breast, Prostate and Lung Cancer☆
Received 22 December 2009; received in revised form 21 April 2010; accepted 6 June 2010. published online 01 July 2010.
Abstract
Aims
To compare the existing model estimates of the appropriate rates of radiotherapy for lung, breast and prostate cancers with actual radiotherapy rates in rural, semi-urban and urban areas, and in areas with short and long drive distances to cancer clinics in British Columbia.
Materials and methods
: All registered cases of lung, breast and prostate cancer diagnosed in British Columbia between 1997 and 2007 were identified. The proportion of cancers treated within 1 (RT1Y) and 5 years (RT5Y) of diagnosis were calculated according to rural, semi-urban and urban area, and areas associated with short and long drive distances to cancer clinics in British Columbia.
Results
RT1Y for lung, breast and prostate in urban and rural areas were 47/45%, 57/46% and 31/30%, and for short and long drive times were 47/44%, 56/50% and 31/31% compared with model estimates for initial radiotherapy needs of 41–45%, 57–61% and 32–37%, respectively. RT5Y for lung, breast and prostate in urban and rural areas were 52/47%, 59/48% and 42/39%, and for short and long drive times were 51/47%, 57/50% and 42/42% compared with model estimates for overall radiotherapy needs of 66–83%, 57–61% and 60–61%, respectively.
Conclusions
Radiotherapy rates vary between and within urban and rural areas in British Columbia. Radiotherapy rates for breast and lung cancer patients are higher, and closer to model estimates of need, in urban areas and short drive time areas. Radiotherapy rates do not vary with drive time or rural versus urban classification for patients with prostate cancer.
∗Department of Radiation Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
†Department of Population Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Author for correspondence: S. Tyldesley, Vancouver Cancer Clinic, BC Cancer Agency, 600 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4E6. Tel: +1-604-877-6000 local 2665; Fax: +1-604-877-0505.
☆ Presented in part at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology, Quebec City, Canada, 30 September 2009.
ABSTRACT