Grant: Operating Grant - PA: Cancer Research (bridge funding)

Recent clinical trials have shown that when chemotherapy is given after surgery for lung cancer it causes more side effects, but cures a higher proportion of patients. The purpose of this study is to find out if these forms of treatment are now being appropriately used and if patients in the general population are getting the full benefit of them today. Our research centre has a unique database which includes information about diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of all patients with lung cancer in Ontario. We will use this information to answer the following questions: 1) Are patients receiving chemotherapy after surgery? 2) Are patients in different regions of Ontario receiving different forms of therapy? and 3) Do patients appear to benefit from chemotherapy? We hope to provide information about whether doctors are following established guidelines for the management of this disease, and whether it appears as though chemotherapy is useful to such patients. The results of this study will be valuable in developing strategies for maximizing the societal benefits of advances in cancer treatment.