Award Title: Providing detailed insight into the impact of a cancer diagnosis across a full pathway for cancer patients: development and application of novel methodology
Funder: Cancer Research UK

Abstract: Background: It is well known that a diagnosis of cancer will increase the chance of mortality over the coming years following diagnosis compared to a similar individual (in terms of sex and age) in the general population. However, what is also true is that due to the impact of treatment and the cancer generally, quality of life will also be impacted and this is typically not incorporated when measuring the impact of cancer using standard survival statistics.   Aims: The main aim of the project is to provide detailed insights into the impact of a cancer diagnosis across a full patient pathway, determining both the impact on survival (and the cause of death), and the quality of life following cancer. A secondary aim is to understand the differences in impact across population groups; highlighting inequalities and evaluating the potential benefit of removing them. The focus of the project will be driving the methodological developments to appropriately explore the available data in order to achieve the aims set out above.  Methods: The research proposal is separated into 3 main components, each with individual objectives that contribute to the overall aims of the project. In the first part of the proposal, we will further develop methodology to calculate the impact of cancer on quality of life across an entire lifespan; using patient reported outcome data. In the second part of the proposal, we will further develop methods to understand competing causes of mortality for cancer patients, and also relate mortality from other causes to those associated with comorbidity associations and those related to long-term treatment effects. The final part of the proposal will concentrate on methods to estimate longer-term stage-specific survival; dealing with issues caused by historically lower levels of data completeness.  How the results of this research will be used: The results of this research will be used to better understand the impact of cancer across entire patient pathways, but also to ascertain differences across cancer patient groups that may be preventable. The research will also highlight patient groups that may need further support and screening due to increased mortality risks or high impact on quality of life.

Lay Abstract: Background: It is well known that a diagnosis of cancer will increase the chance of mortality over the coming years following diagnosis compared to a similar individual (in terms of sex and age) in the general population. However, what is also true is that due to the impact of treatment and the cancer generally, quality of life will also be impacted and this is typically not incorporated when measuring the impact of cancer using standard survival statistics.   Aims: The main aim of the project is to provide detailed insights into the impact of a cancer diagnosis across a full patient pathway, determining both the impact on survival (and the cause of death), and the quality of life following cancer. A secondary aim is to understand the differences in impact across population groups; highlighting inequalities and evaluating the potential benefit of removing them. The focus of the project will be driving the methodological developments to appropriately explore the available data in order to achieve the aims set out above.  Methods: The research proposal is separated into 3 main components, each with individual objectives that contribute to the overall aims of the project. In the first part of the proposal, we will further develop methodology to calculate the impact of cancer on quality of life across an entire lifespan; using patient reported outcome data. In the second part of the proposal, we will further develop methods to understand competing causes of mortality for cancer patients, and also relate mortality from other causes to those associated with comorbidity associations and those related to long-term treatment effects. The final part of the proposal will concentrate on methods to estimate longer-term stage-specific survival; dealing with issues caused by historically lower levels of data completeness.  How the results of this research will be used: The results of this research will be used to better understand the impact of cancer across entire patient pathways, but also to ascertain differences across cancer patient groups that may be preventable. The research will also highlight patient groups that may need further support and screening due to increased mortality risks or high impact on quality of life.

Research Activity Codes: 2.4 SURVEILLANCE AND DISTRIBUTION;7.1 INDIVIDUAL CARE NEEDS
Health Categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS