RADIATION ONCOLOGY AND ITS ROLE IN CANCER TREATMENT IN RURAL CANCER PATIENTS OF A CANCER CENTRE OF EASTERN INDIA: EVALUATING FEASIBILITY, COST-BENEFIT AND OUTCOMES.

Cancer has become a major health problem in rural India, where a shortage of healthcare services exacerbates the impact of the disease. Radiation therapy is critical in the treatment of cancer; however, its underuse in rural settings largely results from financial, logistical, and psychosocial constraints. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the accessibility, efficacy, and socio-economic effect of radiation therapy among cancer patients in rural India. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective cohort analysis compared 1,240 cancer patients and their treatment outcomes and cost benefit by data collection from departmental record files and contact details of the patients registered at our cancer centre in the year 2021. RESULT: According to the findings, 570 of the patients were treated with radiation therapy and had 3-year survival rates of 70% in cases of breast cancer patients treated with radical radiation. Cost and fear of side effects were the two major reasons for refusing treatment. CONCLUSION: The study showed that expanded radiation therapy access in rural areas is attainable by overcoming infrastructural shortcomings, cutting down economic expenses, and offering psychosocial support for better patient education and treatment compliance. The findings emphasize the need for embracing strategic interventions towards enhancing healthcare provision and the uptake of treatment in rural areas.