Oncomid bone metastasis initiative
spinal metastasis, referral, outcome
Research aim
Bone/spinal metastases can have severe impact on the quality of life of cancer patients due to intractable pain, pathologic fractures, and paralysis. Research in our regional network aims to improve the treatment and outcome of patients-at-risk.
About us
Due to improvements in the treatment of cancer, an increasing number of patients will live with metastasized disease, sometimes for a long time. As cancer spreads in the body, bone metastases can form with a predilection for the spinal column. Timely identification of these metastases is of great importance as they can, when left unchecked, lead to severe pain, pathological fractures and paralysis. Although spinal metastases occur often (incidence >25.000 in the Netherlands) their clinical significance is relatively new since advanced cancer patients of only two decades ago typically did not survive long enough to experience the detrimental effects. As a result, the knowledge how to quickly identify patients with symptomatic bone metastases and make well-judged clinical decisions, is deep nor widespread. In the Oncomid Bone metastases Initiative (OBI), a network of hospitals/caregivers in the Utrecht region work together to share knowledge and collect data on the journeys of patients with symptomatic bone metastases. In the research emphasis is placed on identifying the root causes of various forms of delays and the impact these delays have on treatment outcome, non-clinical outcome, resource allocation, and costs. It is envisioned that the change needed to consistently treat patients with spinal metastases better, requires profound training and standardization in our regional practice. The effects of these interventions will be studied and could lead to blueprint solutions.