Patients with delays of 3 months have 12% lower five-year survival than those with shorter delays.
At present, breast cancer is one of the most pressing and important issues in public health. Millions of women throughout the world suffer from this devastating disease.
Currently, there is no known method for preventing breast cancer. As a result, the focus of the fight against breast cancer is on early detection.
Early detection and the start of treatment minimize premature death, prolong patients’ lives, and contribute to treatment progress.
Currently, there is no known method for preventing breast cancer. As a result, the focus of the fight against breast cancer is on early detection.
Early detection and the start of treatment minimize premature death, prolong patients’ lives, and contribute to treatment progress.
Delays are common in the healthcare system, including lengthy waiting times for routine appointments, mammograms, and biopsies, misdiagnoses, and postponements in therapy.
The focus on the critical need for early identification to reduce malignant spread (metastasis) and improve therapeutic choices, hence increasing better treatment results and patient survival, is critical.
Multiple studies conducted in the United States and Europe examined the effects of postponing treatment, and even a three-month delay was linked to an increased spread and growth of malignant tumors.
Research:
Patients with delays of 3 months or more had 12% lower five-year survival than those with shorter delays.
Those with delays of 3-6 months had 7% lower survival than those with shorter delays.
13 of 14 studies with unrestricted samples showed a significant adverse relation between longer delays and survival.
A rapidly growing lump may suggest cancer to doctors and patients, while a slow-growing lump could be less obvious.
It would seem logical that a tumor that is more advanced at diagnosis would lead to shorter survival, but several counter-intuitive studies show that this is not necessarily true, and it is a dangerous assumption.
Longer periods of three to six months between diagnosis and the beginning of treatment will result in the progression of the disease, the need for more aggressive treatments, and a shorter lifespan, greatly affecting the patient’s quality of life.
All studies supported the primary hypothesis.
The 13 informative studies showed clear results that longer delays of three months were associated with more advanced stages and death.
Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10209974/
Patient delay and stage of diagnosis among breast cancer patients in Germany – a population-based study
In general, delay in diagnosis and treatment of cancer is divided into patient and provider delay (Facione, 1993).
Patient delay is defined as the period from the first onset of symptoms to the first medical consultation.
Provider delay covers the period from first consultation to definite diagnosis and treatment.
There is quite substantial evidence that among breast cancer cases, patient delay of more than three months is associated with lower survival.
Reference:
(Afzelius et al, 1994; Coates, 1999; Richards et al, 1999; Sainsbury et al, 1999).
Summary:
As breast cancer advances to later stages, treatment options become more limited.
At advanced stages, the cancer has spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes, making it difficult to target and eradicate the cancer cells.
Advanced stages require harsher therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapies.
Delayed diagnosis reduces the likelihood of successful treatment and increases the risk of recurrence.
Delays in diagnosis and treatment result in a poorer prognosis for women with breast cancer.
We must take action to raise awareness and improve early detection. Together, we can make a difference and save lives.
As breast cancer advances to later stages, treatment options become more limited.
At advanced stages, the cancer has spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes, making it difficult to target and eradicate the cancer cells.
Advanced stages require harsher therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapies.
Delayed diagnosis reduces the likelihood of successful treatment and increases the risk of recurrence.
Delays in diagnosis and treatment result in a poorer prognosis for women with breast cancer.
We must take action to raise awareness and improve early detection. Together, we can make a difference and save lives.
