Associations Between Time to Treatment Start and Survival in Patients With Lung Cancer.

Background: Time-to-treatment is defined as a quality indicator for cancer care but is not well documented. We investigated whether meeting Norwegian timeframes of 35/42 days from referral until start of chemotherapy or surgery/radiotherapy for lung cancer was associated with survival.

Patients And Methods: The medical records of 439 lung cancer patients at a regional cancer center were reviewed and categorized according to treatment: (i) surgery; ii) radical radiotherapy; iii) stereotactic radiotherapy; iv) palliative treatment, no cancer symptoms; v) palliative treatment with severe cancer symptoms).

Reasons for prolonged time for diagnostic workup for stage I-II lung cancer and estimated effect of applying an optimized pathway for diagnostic procedures.

Background: Minimizing the time until start of cancer treatment is a political goal. In Norway, the target time for lung cancer is 42 days. The aim of this study was to identify reasons for delays and estimate the effect on the timelines when applying an optimal diagnostic pathway.

Gynecological cancer patients' attitudes toward follow-up care after cancer treatment: Do preferences reflect patients' experience? A cross-sectional questionnaire study.

Introduction: Due to an increasing number of cancer patients, new follow-up models are being debated, among them follow-up by general practitioners. Before changing surveillance, it is important to explore patients' views. The purpose of this study was to compare attitudes toward follow-up care among patients treated for gynecological cancer who had not yet started a follow-up regimen, with those who had been attending a hospital-based follow-up regimen for more than one year.

A national, prospective observational study of first recurrence after primary treatment for gynecological cancer in Norway.

Introduction: Gynecological cancer patients are routinely followed up for five years after primary treatment. However, the value of such follow up has been debated, as retrospective studies indicate that first recurrence is often symptomatic and occurs within two to three years of primary treatment. We prospectively investigated time to first recurrence, symptoms at recurrence, diagnostic procedures, and recurrence treatment in gynecological cancer patients after primary curative treatment.

Medical complexity and time to lung cancer treatment - a three-year retrospective chart review.

Background: The time from a referral for suspected lung cancer is received at a hospital until treatment start has been defined as a quality indicator. Current Norwegian recommendation is that ≥70% should start surgery or radiotherapy within 42 calendar days and systemic therapy within 35 days. However, delays can occur due to medical complexity.

A long-term follow-up study of women with asymptomatic endometriosis diagnosed incidentally at sterilization.

Objective: To evaluate whether asymptomatic endometriosis diagnosed in connection with tubal sterilization is likely to cause symptoms later in the woman's life.

Design: Controlled, clinical follow-up study of women who were examined for endometriosis in connection with tubal sterilization performed between 1986 and 1989.

Setting: University hospital.