Who does not receive treatment for cancer?

Marcia M Ward; Fred Ullrich; Kevin Matthews; Gerard Rushton; Michael A Goldstein; Dean F Bajorin; Amy Hanley; Charles F Lynch

doi:10.1200/JOP.2012.000829

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Who does not receive treatment for cancer?

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Who does not receive treatment for cancer?

Marcia M Ward, Fred Ullrich, Kevin Matthews, Gerard Rushton, Michael A Goldstein, Dean F Bajorin, Amy Hanley and Charles F Lynch

Journal of oncology practice, Vol.9(1), pp.20-26

01/2013

DOI: 10.1200/JOP.2012.000829

PMCID: PMC3545658

PMID: 23633967

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Abstract

Little has been published on nontreatment of cancer, yet the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) indicates that 9.2% of patients receive no first course of treatment. Because the NCDB is limited to accredited cancer programs, there is potential for the actual rate to differ. We sought to understand the rate and characteristics of patients with cancer who receive no first course of treatment in a more population-representative data source. The Iowa Cancer Registry (ICR) strives to capture 100% of newly diagnosed cancer cases among Iowa residents, regardless of where they are diagnosed or treated. In the ICR from 2004 to 2010, 12.3% of newly diagnosed patients with cancer did not receive a first course of treatment, which is 48% higher than the NCDB data for the state of Iowa (8.3%) during the same time period. Logistic regression indicated that nontreatment was more common in certain cancers (ie, small-cell and non-small-cell lung/bronchial cancers and low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma), advanced stages, older patients, those receiving treatment recommendations at nonaccredited cancer programs, and patients who never consulted an oncologist, radiation therapist, or surgeon. Distance to treatment facilities was not related to nontreatment. The rate of nontreatment varies by cancer type and stage and is higher in patients receiving initial treatment recommendations in nonaccredited cancer programs than in accredited cancer programs. This pattern seems to be correlated with patient characteristics but also may be related to provider and facility characteristics available to people locally that influence both patient and provider decision making.

Humans

Male

Cancer Care Facilities - statistics & numerical data

Iowa

Neoplasms - therapy

Health Services Accessibility

Medical Oncology - statistics & numerical data

Medical Oncology - standards

Female

Registries

Accreditation

Aged

Neoplasms - epidemiology

Cancer Care Facilities - standards

Details

Title: Subtitle: Who does not receive treatment for cancer?
Creators: Marcia M Ward - University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA. marcia-m-ward@uiowa.edu
Fred Ullrich
Kevin Matthews
Gerard Rushton
Michael A Goldstein
Dean F Bajorin
Amy Hanley
Charles F Lynch
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of oncology practice, Vol.9(1), pp.20-26
DOI: 10.1200/JOP.2012.000829
PMID: 23633967
PMCID: PMC3545658
NLM abbreviation: J Oncol Pract
ISSN: 1935-469X
eISSN: 1935-469X
Publisher: United States
Grant note: HHSN261201000032C / NCI NIH HHS HHSN261201000032C / PHS HHS
Language: English
Date published: 01/2013
Academic Unit: Health Management and Policy; Epidemiology; Geographical and Sustainability Sciences
Record Identifier: 9983996088602771

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