Radiation therapy for cervix cancer in Brazil

Abstract

Cervix cancer is a tumor of high incidence in Brazil specially in the areas of low social and economic status. Since one of the most important treatment modalities for this disease is radiation therapy, a survey of the present situation in the country was devised by using the 117 oncology radiation centers as the basis for collecting the information. A special form was send to collect information on the number of patients per stage, the treatment technique used, type of sources and the interest to participate in a national protocol. Eighty percent of the centers returned the form and the results showed that 89% of the tumors were located in the cervix and 11% in the endometrium; 60% are still using manual after loading technique; 70% received combined tele + brachy, 7% are centers still using Ra-226. In addition, it was found that only 49% of the expected new cases a year of cervix cancer had been treated by radiation therapy, when the expected number would have been around 80%. This is reasonable, if one considers that the majority of the patients have advanced disease, as radiation therapy is the ideal treatment for these cases. Finally the response regarding the participation in a national clinicai trial was positively answered by the great majority of the centers.