Access to cancer radiotherapy: The effects of geography and rurality on patient choice of treatment

Abstract

Access to health care remains a topic of many differences between rural and urban communities.  The magnitude of these differences and barriers is influenced by the placement of an individual community along the rural to large urban continuum.  These barriers may hold true for rural patients receiving cancer care, in which a more invasive treatment option may be chosen to alleviate the burden of travel.  Further research into the barriers impeding access to care in rural communities has the ability to provide information to mitigate the effects of rurality and geography on patient choice of cancer treatment.