Management of stage II and III rectal cancer in British Columbia: Is there a rural-urban difference?

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study assessed management of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer from rural, small and large local health authorities (LHA) in British Columbia (BC), Canada. METHODS: We analyzed patients from 2004-2009 using a prospective database. Patients were defined as living in rural, small or large LHA using Statistics Canada definitions. Differences in treatments and outcomes were analyzed using chi-squared and log-rank tests, respectively. RESULTS: Among 1964 patients, 13% lived in rural, 22% in small, and 66% in large LHAs. There were no differences in rates of abdominoperineal resections in rural (33%), small (39%) and large (35%) areas (p = 0.30). The proportion of patients who received radiotherapy (86-88%, p = 0.80) and adjuvant chemotherapy (56-57%, p = 0.89) were similar. There was no difference in 5-year disease-free survival (84-86%, p = 0.98) or overall survival (57-59%, p = 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: The management and outcome of locally advanced rectal cancer patients seems to be comparable for rural and non-rural BC.