Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Reducing transport emissions in systemic therapy delivery to adult oncology patients, climate-responsive cancer-care. (141607)

Indika Gunadasa 1 , Wei Hong 1 , Luke McLean 1 , Sue-Anne McLachlan 1 , Melissa Moore 1
  1. Medical Oncology, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia

Aim:

Quantify transport-emission reductions from telehealth, cancer-care at home and extended dosing intervals in carbon-mitigating medical oncology practice.

 

Method:

This retrospective study examines consecutive adult oncology patients who received systemic therapy between June to August 2025 at a metropolitan cancer-care centre in Australia with regards to adoption of carbon-mitigating strategies targeting transportation via telehealth, cancer-care at home and extended dosing intervals. Data are extracted from the electronic health record.

 

Carbon footprint reductions per visit are calculated based on avoided round-trip distances for telehealth and extended dosing intervals, while cancer-care at home emissions are based on cancer-nurse travel compared with standard cancer-centre visits. Modelling using national guidelines retrospectively assesses how potential further carbon reductions can be achieved.

 

A mixed-methods approach is employed to quantify carbon footprint reductions for each of the carbon-mitigating strategies per visit based on distance travelled and emission factors. Key trends in emission reductions based on sociodemographic factors, tumour type, treatment factors are synthesised thematically to guide pragmatic, climate-responsive systemic therapy delivery.

 

Results:

Preliminary analysis of 180 visits involving 50 patients between June to August 2025 demonstrated reduced transport-related emissions in 22(12%) visits with telehealth, 7 (4%) visits with cancer-care at home, and 3(2%) visits with extended dosing intervals. These strategies avoided approximately 1720km of travel and 0.655t CO2e emissions. Virtual visits were readily adopted among patients aged 41-65 (50%) and those receiving oral chemotherapy or targeted therapy (52%). Potential for further emission reductions from virtual visits include young, fit patients, clinically stable patients on systemic therapies and non-treatment reviews. Modelling increasing these types of visits by one-third, demonstrates relative emissions reductions of approximately 3600km and 1.23t CO2e; highlighting substantial potential for wider adoption of these carbon-mitigating strategies.

 

Conclusion:

This study quantifies emissions reductions using real-world data and supports achieving high-quality care by low-carbon systemic therapy delivery.

 

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