Treatment strategies in advanced and metastatic cancer: differences in attitude between the USA, Canada and Europe

Abstract

Six-hundred and forty four radiation therapists from 21 European countries, Canada, and the USA responded to a questionnaire regarding the management of three cases of advanced cancer. The cases were a 64-year-old man with brain metastases from small cell carcinoma of the lung; a 64-year-old woman with bone metastases from carcinoma of the breast and a 59-year-old man with squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus and mediastinal nodes. There was variation as to the perceived prognosis and appropriate aims of therapy, particularly for the case of squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus. The total dose and number of fractions could be related to the perceived aims and expectations of treatment, for example, those aiming to extend life gave higher doses of radiotherapy and those aiming only to relieve symptoms gave lower. Similarly, those describing treatment as radical and estimating longer survival gave higher doses and more fractions than those treating palliatively. Variations in the role of the radiation oncologist in the management of advanced and metastatic cancer in the USA, Canada and Europe are discussed.