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Radiotherapy in the Barwon South Western Region: A rural perspective
Author(s) -
Henry Margaret J,
Jones Phil,
Morrissy Kate,
Matheson Leigh M,
Pitson Graham,
Healy Pat,
Coory Michael,
Lynch Rod,
Chapman Adam,
Ashley David
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.31
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1754-9485
pISSN - 1754-9477
DOI - 10.1111/1754-9485.12208
Subject(s) - medicine , rural area , radiation therapy , lung cancer , rural population , prostate cancer , population , colorectal cancer , demography , cancer , pathology , environmental health , sociology
Cancer‐related mortality rates are higher in rural areas compared with urban regions. Whether there are corresponding geographical variations in radiotherapy utilisation rates ( RUR s) is the subject of this study. Methods RUR s for the regional centre of G eelong and rural areas of the B arwon S outh W estern R egion were calculated using a population‐based database (2009). Results Lower RUR s were observed for rural patients compared with the G eelong region for prostate cancer (15.7% vs 25.8%, P = 0.02), rectal cancer (32.8% vs 44.7%, P = 0.11), lymphoma (9.4% vs 26.2%, P = 0.05), and all cancers overall (25.6% vs 28.9%, P = 0.06). This lower rate was significant in men (rural, 19.9%; G eelong, 28.3%; P = 0.00) but not in women (rural, 33.6%; G eelong, 29.7%; P = 0.88). Time from diagnosis to radiotherapy was not significantly different for patients from the two regions. Tumour staging within the rural and G eelong regions was not significantly different for the major tumour streams of rectal, prostate and lung cancer ( P = 0.61, P = 0.79, P = 0.43, respectively). A higher proportion of tumours were unstaged or unstageable in the rural region for lung (44% vs 18%, P < 0.01) and prostate (73% vs 57%, P < 0.01) cancer. Conclusion Lower RUR s were observed in our rural region. Differences found within tumour streams and in men suggest a complexity of relationships that will require further study.