Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2023

Exploring the difference in travel distances for radiation therapy by tumour type in Victoria, Australia (#347)

Piers Gillett 1 , Karen Trapani 1 , Maike Trommer 2 3 , Richard Khor 2 4 5 , Fanny Franchini 1
  1. The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VICTORIA, Australia
  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
  4. La Trobe University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
  5. Monash Univeristy, Melbourne, Vic, Australia

Aims: This study evaluated travel distances encountered by radiation therapy cancer patients across four cancer types in Victoria, Australia. Due to the specialised nature of radiotherapy facilities and their scarcity in regional areas, combined with patient specific needs per tumour type, extensive travel can be required. We analysed patient travel patterns across tumour types using a comprehensive statewide linked dataset.

Methods: Driving distance between postcode centroids of a patient’s home address and the radiotherapy facilities were calculated using the Google Distance Matrix API, based on deidentified patient information and treating facility data. One-way travel distances per radiotherapy course were calculated for each of prostate, lung, breast, and colorectal cancers separately in addition to all streams combined. Stratification by sex was performed where relevant.

Results: The combined mean (median) travel distance was 46km (median: 18.6km) for men and 37.9km (median: 14.8km) for women with maximums of 630km and 723km respectively. Colorectal cancer patients recorded mean travel distances of 47.85km (median: 18.09km) for men and 44.84km (median: 17.7km) for women with respective maximums of 600 and 588km. For lung cancer, mean travel distances were 44.51km (median: 18.12km) for men and 42.35km (median: 18.16km) for women, and maximums of 630km and 588km respectively. Men with prostate cancer had a mean distance of 46.55km (median: 19.25km) and maximum of 598km. For breast cancer, mean travel distances were 35.97km (median: 14.1km) for women and 45.64km (median: 20km) for men with maximums of 551km and 723km respectively.

Conclusions: Our study identifies consistent travel distances across the examined tumour types, with a notable exception in women with breast cancer. The underlying factors for this discrepancy warrant further investigation and may be attributed to common referral patterns stemming from disease prevalence, increased patient awareness influencing treatment location decisions, and widespread availability of centres equipped for breast cancer treatment.