title: Travel Burden and Clinical Profile of Cancer Patients Admitted to the Cancer Institute of Iran in 2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Burden of cancer is increasing in developing countries, where healthcare infrastructures and resources are limited. Evaluating the pattern of care would provide evidence for planning and improvement of the situation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the pattern of residential place and clinical information of cancer patients who were admitted to the Cancer Institute of Iran from January 1, to May 31, 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 1,705 consecutive cancer patients admitted to the Cancer Institute in the study period. The most common cancers were breast (29.2%), colorectal (9.0%), stomach (8.3%), head & neck (8.0%) and esophageal (3.8%) cancers. Radiotherapy was the main treatment (52.1%) followed by chemotherapy (43.8%) and surgery (29.1%). We found that 60% of the patients presented in the loco-regional or advanced stages. About 35% of patients travelled from other provinces mainly from Mazandaran (13.4%), Lorestan (10.6%), Zanjan (7.8%) and Ghazvin (6.6%). On average, the cancer patients travelled about 455 kilometers to receive care in the cancer institute. We found more than 38% patients who were referred from other provinces had an early stage tumor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Establishment of comprehensive cancer centers in different geographical regions and implementation of a proper referral system for advanced cancer patients is needed to improve the patient outcomes and mitigate the burden of travel of patients for cancer care.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Atefeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ardestani
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadji
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mohagheghi
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kazemian
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrzad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirzania
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Habibollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mahmoodzadeh
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aghili
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Cancer Biology Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Kazem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zendehdel
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003906:Developing Countries; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents