The first thousand days in a newly established radiation oncology clinic: an evaluation study

The study aimed to determine the distribution of cancer and treatment characteristics in a recently started radiation oncology (RO) clinic and to examine the differences according to age groups and gender.

The medical records of 2,434 patients who underwent treatment at Konya City Hospital's RO clinic between June 2021 and March 2024 were retrospectively examined. Descriptive analyses and the chi-square method were applied.

The median age was 63 years. Age groupings revealed that, in young adults, breast cancer and central nervous system malignancies were the most common (56.1, 14.6%), in adults, breast cancer and lung cancer (42.0, 24.0%), and in older adults, lung cancer and gastrointestinal system (GIS) cancers (33.6, 17.4%) (p = 0.00). The metastatic stage rate was higher in men at the time of initial diagnosis (p = 0.00). Lung cancer was more common in metastatic patients, whereas breast cancer was more common in non-metastatic patients (p = 0.00). Neoadjuvant RT was most often used in GIS malignancies (p = 0.00), adjuvant RT was most often used in breast cancer, and definitive, palliative RT was most often used in lung cancer. The first stage of the disease had not been associated with the distance to the treatment facility (p = 0.43).

Our research has revealed significant differences in the distribution of cancer, stage and the role of radiotherapy according to both age groups and gender in the practice of RO. These findings can be utilised as a model for more efficient health strategising.