Patterns and Yearly Time Trends in the Use of Radiation Therapy During the Last 30 Days of Life Among Patients With Metastatic Rectal Cancer in the United States From 2004 to 2012.
Adan Z BecerraChristian P ProbstFergal J FlemingZhaomin XuChristopher T AquinaCarla F JustinianoCourtney I BoodryAlex A SwangerKatia NoyesAlan W KatzJohn R MonsonTodd A JuskoPublished in: The American journal of hospice & palliative care (2017)
Radiation therapy use for patients with metastatic rectal cancer is beneficial, and efforts to optimize its appropriate use are important. Several factors associated with RT use during the last 30 days of life included disparities in sociodemographic and clinical subgroups. Research is needed to understand the underlying causes of these inequalities and the role of predictive models in clinical decision-making.