RT Journal
T1 Cancer: An inquiry into the extent to which patients receive treatment
JF Journal of the American Medical Association
JO Journal of the American Medical Association
YR 1939
FD June 3
VO 112
IS 22
SP 2356
OP 2356
DO 10.1001/jama.1939.02800220122037
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1939.02800220122037
AB The objective of the inquiry was "to obtain information as to the number of persons with cancer who received treatment and the circumstances under which treatment was, or was not, received. For this purpose data derived from the histories of those who had died of cancer have been utilised." The histories of 3,303 patients, which it was felt could "fairly be considered as a reasonably representative sample," were thus studied. Of these 2,420, or 73 per cent, did not obtain treatment. There were 418, or 12 per cent, who first sought advice within four weeks of death; 237, or 7 per cent, refused treatment; 169, 5 per cent, suffered from concomitant disease which rendered treatment difficult or impossible; 426, or 13 per cent, were too old for treatment, and 657, or 20 per cent, were cases in which the condition was too advanced for treatment. The cases were then analyzed to determine whether