Disparities in Treatment Access

Intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has become the mainstay of initial and salvage treatment for patients with brain metastases at major academic centers since SRS offers better local control and fewer side effects when compared to whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). However, SRS is also more expensive and less accessible. The number and characteristics of patients being treated with SRS varies widely across our nation and may be influenced by a variety of factors Since SRS has become such an important part of cancer treatment for brain metastases especially in lung and breast cancer, understanding the drivers of disparities in SRS access is a high priority nationally and locally. Our specific aims are: (1) to characterize disparities in SRS access for patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer; and (2) to determine the impact of national SRS guideline recommendations on disparities in SRS access.

Funding source: Yale Cancer Center

Principal Investigator: Henry Park