[Breast cancer patients' assessment of waiting time before radiotherapy]

Radiotherapy capacity in Norway is limited because of higher cancer incidence and more complex treatment modalities. Breast cancer patients referred for post-operative radiotherapy were asked to respond to a questionnaire on waiting time and their attitude to treatment outside the Norwegian Radium Hospital. From 130 referred patients we received 109 questionnaires.

A majority of patients (n = 91) were satisfied with the overall approach to their disease in the Norwegian health care system. Most patients received radiotherapy within medically acceptable time frames, but for 35 % of the patients receiving chemotherapy (16 out of 46) the interval until radiation was more than four weeks. Approximately one third of the patients were willing to accept treatment given at other radiation centres.

A substantial number of patients are willing to consider decentralised radiotherapy. Cooperation between radiation centres could offer a significantly optimised submission rate to third line hospitals.