Comprehensive assessment during palliative radiotherapy consultation optimizes supportive care for patients with advanced breast cancer

Purpose Palliative radiotherapy (PRT) in advanced cancer improves symptom control and quality of life. PRT consultations take place in various clinical settings, including through dedicated rapid access clinics. We examined holistic assessment and PRT delivery by consultation setting. Methods We analyzed patients with breast cancer who died (01/04/2013–31/03/2014), after at least one lifetime PRT consultation. Data abstracted included Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), Edmonton Symptom Assessment System Revised (ESAS-r) ratings, and PRT timelines. Descriptive statistics, t tests of proportions, independent t tests, and chi-square tests were calculated. Results One hundred thirty patients were assessed for PRT over 224 consults, 28/224 (12.5%) in the rapid access clinic. In non-rapid access versus rapid access visits, KPS was documented in 30.1% versus 89.3%, and medication history in 53.6% versus 96.4%, respectively (both p < 0.0001). Baseline ESAS-r scores were available for 67.9% of rapid access visits, versus no non-rapid access visit. Rapid access consults had a higher proportion of subsequent supportive care referrals (46.4% versus 8.2%; p < 0.0001). Same day PRT start occurred in 37% of rapid access versus 23.4% of non-rapid access visits ( p = 0.13). Conclusions Assessment for PRT by a dedicated multidisciplinary team provides a comprehensive picture of patient needs and streamlines PRT delivery, essential to personalizing supportive care.