Studies have shown that remoteness of residence is associated with an increase of lung cancer incidence and mortality.¹ The Department of Thoracic Medicine at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) in partnership with Central Integrated Regional Cancer Services, Queensland is exploring whether differences exist in the lung cancer pathway for patients living within 50 km of TPCH (metropolitan)  to those living more than 50km from TPCH (non-metropolitan).

We described and compared the time from referral to diagnosis and up to commencement of treatment for metropolitan and non –metropolitan patients with suspected lung cancer referred to TPCH from December 2010 to 31 May 2013. Data was obtained from various Queensland Health patient information systems.

562 patient records were reviewed and categorised according to distance from TPCH (metropolitan patients N= 345 and non-metropolitan patients N=217).  51% of metropolitan patients (N=204) and 52% of non-metropolitan patients (N=106) commenced definitive treatment (surgery, chemoradiation or radiation alone) within 62 days from receipt of referral (UK NHS benchmark 62 days).  The most significant difference was time to chemoradiation or radiation where metropolitan patients waited 26 days longer.

Findings from this retrospective audit and evaluation study suggest that non-metropolitan patients are not placed at any significant disadvantage than their metropolitan counterparts in this service delivery model. The reasons why metropolitan patients in this study had a longer wait for chemoradiation or radiation is being explored.  

The authors acknowledge Central Integrated Regional Cancer Service’s support in undertaking this study.