title: Continued success in providing timely palliative radiation therapy at the Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program: a review of 2008-2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We set out to review the Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program (rrrp).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed a prospective database of patients referred to the rrrp between August 1, 2008, and June 30, 2012, extracting patient demographics, case dispositions, and wait times in days from referral to consultation and from consultation to treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2742 patients referred to the rrrp, 1458 (53%) were men, and 1284 (47%) were women. Median age was 64 years. The most prevalent primary cancer sites were lung (33%), breast (21%), and prostate (17%). The most common reasons for referral were bone metastases (53%) and brain metastases (21%). Palliative radiation therapy was given to 1890 patients. The median wait time from referral to consultation was 3 days. Among treated patients, 60% were treated on the day of their consultation, and 33%, within 1-6 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rrrp continues to deliver timely palliative radiation therapy to patients, comparable to earlier reviews. The continued success of the rrrp will remain a model for future rapid-access palliative radiation therapy clinics.
authors.affiliation: Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thavarajah
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bedard
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Danjoux
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahgal
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holden
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lauzon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chow
keywords: Palliative; radiation therapy; wait times