Access to Single-Fraction Palliative Radiation Therapy in Cancer Patients Enrolled in Hospice

Impact of Access to Single-Fraction Palliative Radiation Therapy in Cancer Patients Enrolled in Hospice

Feasibility study to report on the impact of ACCESS of single-fraction radiation therapy on cancer patients with bone metastases enrolled in hospice care.

Hospice care for terminally ill patients with metastatic cancer improves quality of life, pain control, and potentially also survival when patients are enrolled early.1-3 However, hospice programs are often seen by patients and their caregivers as the last resort after exhaustion of all effective treatment options. The need to revoke active treatment (for all hospice patients with cancer outside of the VA system) discourages hospice enrollment.

This study aims to understand and analyze barriers to access specifically for short course palliative radiation therapy in cancer patients enrolled in hospice.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Solid Tumor Malignancies and Multiple Myeloma with Bone Metastases and Associated Bone Pain Enrolled in Hospice

Exclusion Criteria:

• Decisionally-Impaired Subjects, Pregnant Women