Influence of remoteness of residence on timeliness of diagnosis and treatment of oral cavity and oropharynx cancer: A retrospective cohort study.
Rebecca Louise VenchiaruttiJonathan R ClarkCarsten E PalmeThomas P ShakespareJacques HillAbdul Rahim Mohd TahirPatrick DwyerJane M YoungPublished in: Journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology (2020)
Regional/remote HNC patients experienced longer times to diagnosis and treatment, and regardless of remoteness of residence, fewer than half of patients were treated within guideline recommended timeframes. Despite this non-adherence to guidelines, there were no differences in survival outcomes among this cohort. However, the impact of not meeting guidelines on patient outcomes other than survival warrants further investigation.