ArticleAsian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP2021
Time Taken for Symptom Recognition, First Consultation, Diagnosis and First Definitive Treatment and Its Associated Factors among Women with Breast Cancer.
Article in Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Duration of the patient interval in breast cancer and factors associated with longer delays in low-and middle-income countries: A systematic review with meta-analysis.Psycho-oncology · 2023Pooled it
- Clinicopathological and Immunohistochemical Correlation of Stromal CD10 Expression in Invasive Breast Carcinoma: A Prospective Observational Study.Iranian journal of pathology · 2026Article
- Cascade of care for people with positive symptoms of common cancers in selected primary health centres of Puducherry: An explanatory mixed-method study.The Indian journal of medical research · 2024Article
- Factors influencing presentation delay among cancer patients: a cross-sectional study in Malaysia.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Systematic Review of Survival Outcomes of Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer in Asian Countries.The Malaysian journal of medical sciences : MJMS · 2024Review
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3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
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Abstract
backgroundBreast cancer patients in Malaysia often present late, delaying diagnosis and treatment. Decisions on health-seeking behaviour are influenced by a complex interplay of several factors. Early detection and subsequent successful treatment are the main goal in order to reduce breast cancer mortality. The aims of this study were to identify the time taken by women with breast cancer for consultation, diagnosis and first definitive treatment and the factors associated with the initiation of definitive treatment.
methodsIn this cohort study, we interviewed 328 women with histologically confirmed breast cancer at five medical centres in Malaysia. Times were measured from recognition of symptoms to first consultation to diagnosis and to the first definitive treatment. The event was initiation of definitive treatment. Data was analysed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression.
resultsThe mean age was 47.9 (standard deviation 9.4) years and 79.9% were ethnic Malays. The median follow-up time was 6.9 months. The median times for first doctor consultation, diagnosis and initiation of treatment were 2 months, 5.5 months and 2.4 weeks, respectively. The percentage of consultation delay more than a month was 66.8%, diagnosis delay more than three months was 73.2% and treatment delay more than one month was 11.6%. Factors associated with not initiating the definitive treatment were pregnancy (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 1.75; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.07, 2.88), taking complementary alternative medicine (AHR 1.45; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.83), initial refusal of mastectomy (AHR 3.49; 95% CI: 2.38, 5.13) and undergoing lumpectomy prior to definitive treatment (AHR 1.62; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.28).
conclusionsDelays in diagnosis and consultation were more serious than treatment delays. Most respondents would accept treatment immediately after diagnosis. Respondents themselves were responsible for a large proportion of the delays. This study was successful in understanding the process of breast cancer patients' experience, from symptoms recognition to consultation, diagnosis and treatment.
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