Newswise — Prostate cancer patients from lower income brackets are less informed about their treatment options, less likely to seek a second opinion and more often unhappy with their treatment decision than patients from higher income brackets, according to a new study presented October 3, 2004, at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology's 46th Annual Meeting in Atlanta.
There are several different treatment options available to prostate cancer patients, including radiation therapy, surgery and hormone therapy. Because of this, patients face difficult decisions in deciding the best treatment for their cancer and lifestyle. Various factors, such as income, can impact how much treatment information a patient receives and can influence the patient's decision. Researchers in this study sought to evaluate how income alone affects a patient's treatment decision and satisfaction afterwards.
In 2003, researchers conducted an online survey of 4,587 prostate cancer patients and their caregivers. Of them, 87 percent were prostate cancer patients, 72 percent of whom had been diagnosed within the past two years. The majority of patients were Caucasian " 93 percent " and 66 percent had completed college.
Researchers found patients with higher incomes felt better informed about the disease, were more likely to seek a second opinion and were generally happier with their treatment decision. According to the survey, 95 percent of patients who earned $120,000 or more said they felt informed about prostate cancer in general compared to 69 percent of patients earning less than $20,000 per year. Prior to treatment, 79 percent in the highest income bracket sought a second opinion versus 47 percent in the lowest income range. Afterwards, 92 percent of patients making $120,000 or more said they would make the same treatment decision again compared to 77 percent in the $20,000 or less range.
"This study shows that prostate cancer patients in lower income brackets often lack information on treatment options, are less likely to receive a second opinion and are more often unhappy with their treatment afterwards," said Peter Grimm, D.O., lead author of the study and a radiation oncologist at the Seattle Prostate Institute, Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. "These results show that we must work harder to educate prostate cancer patients, particularly those in the lower income levels, about the disease and the treatment options available to cure it."
The study was funded and conducted in collaboration with Us TOO International, Inc., based in Downers Grove, Ill., and NexCura, Inc. of Seattle " two organizations interested in better understanding the unique educational needs of different patient populations diagnosed with prostate cancer.
ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 7,500 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As a leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to the advancement of the practice of radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting research and disseminating research results and representing radiation oncology in a rapidly evolving socioeconomic healthcare environment.
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