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Title: Estimating the Need for Radiotherapy for Patients With Prostate, Breast, and Lung Cancers: Verification of Model Estimates of Need With Radiotherapy Utilization Data From British Columbia

Journal Article · · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6]
  1. Vancouver Cancer Centre, Vancouver (Canada)
  2. Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre, and University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales (Australia)
  3. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)
  4. Odette Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
  5. Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta (Canada)
  6. Kingston Regional Cancer Clinic, Kingston, Ontario (Canada)

Purpose: Estimates of the need for radiotherapy (RT) using different methods (criterion based benchmarking [CBB]and the Canadian [C-EBEST]and Australian [A-EBEST]epidemiologically based estimates) exist for various cancer sites. We compared these model estimates to actual RT rates for lung, breast, and prostate cancers in British Columbia (BC). Methods and Materials: All cases of lung, breast, and prostate cancers in BC from 1997 to 2004 and all patients receiving RT within 1 year (RT{sub 1Y}) and within 5 years (RT{sub 5Y}) of diagnosis were identified. The RT{sub 1Y} and RT{sub 5Y} proportions in health regions with a cancer center for the most recent year were then calculated. RT rates were compared with CBB and EBEST estimates of RT needs. Variation was assessed by time and region. Results: The RT{sub 1Y} in regions with a cancer center for lung, breast, and prostate cancers were 51%, 58%, and 33% compared with 45%, 57%, and 32% for C-EBEST and 41%, 61%, and 37% for CBB models. The RT{sub 5Y} rates in regions with a cancer center for lung, breast, and prostate cancers were 59%, 61%, and 40% compared with 61%, 66%, and 61% for C-EBEST and 75%, 83%, and 60% for A-EBEST models. The RT{sub 1Y} rates increased for breast and prostate cancers. Conclusions: C-EBEST and CBB model estimates are closer to the actual RT rates than the A-EBEST estimates. Application of these model estimates by health care decision makers should be undertaken with an understanding of the methods used and the assumptions on which they were based.

OSTI ID:
21491679
Journal Information:
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Vol. 79, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2009.12.070; PII: S0360-3016(10)00026-X; Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0360-3016
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English