USA Today summarizes a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology recently.
Link: USATODAY.com - Cancer care called uneven
Although cancer patients usually receive good medical treatment, their care varies widely across the country and even within cities.
In a study published in Wednesday's Journal of Clinical Oncology, breast and colorectal cancer patients were given nearly all of the therapies recommended by experts.
The report, commissioned by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, examined the care of nearly 1,800 patients in Atlanta, Cleveland, Houston, Kansas City, Kan., and Los Angeles. Researchers at the RAND Corp. and the Harvard School of Public Health wrote it.
More than 211,000 breast cancer patients and 145,000 colorectal cancer patients are diagnosed every year, the American Cancer Society says.
Researchers found that doctors followed some guidelines more closely than others.
Researchers also found wide gaps from one hospital to another.
The study does not explain why care varied so greatly. Ezekiel Emanuel, chairman of the clinical oncology society's Task Force on Quality Cancer Care, says some medical practices might simply have better procedures for following guidelines than others.
The study's authors say their report has limitations that could have overestimated the quality of care.
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