Use of Radiation Therapy Within the Last Year of Life Among Cancer Patients

International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
Yolanda D TsengElizabeth Loggers

Abstract

We examined radiation therapy (RT) use within the last year of life (LYOL). As palliative RT (PRT) has been well studied in patients with ≥6-week life expectancies, we hypothesized that PRT use would be constant over the LYOL, except for the last 30 days, when use would decline given lack of prospective data supporting it. At a single institution, 870 cancer patients died between October 2, 2014, and September 30, 2015, and had ≥3 evaluation and management visits within the LYOL. Claims and RT data were extracted and linked. Over the LYOL, we evaluated RT use by intent (curative vs palliative) and indications. Within the LYOL, one-third of patients underwent RT in the last 365 days of life to 444 sites, which decreased to 24.3% and 8.5% in the last 180 and 30 days of life, respectively. Patients who received any RT in the last 365 days of life were younger at death and had a higher proportion of lung, sarcoma, and transplant disease groups. One-quarter of sites were irradiated with curative intent, which remained constant over the LYOL. In contrast, PRT was used at a supralinear rate, in which treatment of bone metastases and use of single-fraction PRT increased closer to death. PRT appears to be disproportionately used closer ...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 9, 2019·Journal of Oncology Practice·Jennifer K LoganBenjamin D Smith
Dec 7, 2019·American Journal of Clinical Oncology·Yolanda D TsengElizabeth T Loggers
Mar 25, 2019·BMC Palliative Care·Susan Y WuSteve E Braunstein
Apr 6, 2021·Advances in Radiation Oncology·Susan Y WuSteve E Braunstein

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