ArticleEcancermedicalscience2024
Treatment delays for cancer patients in Sub-Saharan Africa: South Africa as a microcosm.
Article in Ecancermedicalscience, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- A 67-year-old man with metastatic carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland: case report and review of the literature.Journal of surgical case reports · 2026Article
- Rising Ovarian Cancer Burden in Africa, 2009-2023: Epidemiological Change, Age-Specific Patterns, COVID-19-Related Deviations, and Future Forecasts.International journal of women's health · 2026Article
- A comparative analysis of hypofractionated versus conventional radiotherapy for cervical cancer in a resource-limited setting: a prospective study.Frontiers in oncology · 2025Article
- A landscape review with novel criteria to evaluate microbial drivers for cancer: priorities for innovative research targeting excessive cancer mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2025Review
- Burkitt's Lymphoma of the Uterine Cervix in a Woman with Advanced HIV Disease: A Case Report on Challenges with Its Management in a Low Resource Setting.International medical case reports journal · 2025Article
- Common haematological malignancies in Northeastern Nigeria: a multi-centre study of their pattern, distribution and treatment challenges.Frontiers in oncology · 2025Article
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14 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Purpose: Delays in initiating cancer treatment time to treatment initiation (TTI) can negatively impact patient outcomes. This study aimed to quantify the association between TTI and survival in breast, cervical and prostate cancer patients at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, as a microcosm of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Methods: We analyzed electronic medical records of patients diagnosed with breast, cervical or prostate cancer at IALCH between 2010 and 2020. Median TTI was calculated for different treatment modalities. To assess the link between treatment delay and mortality, we employed a Cox proportional hazards model to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), treating breast cancer and patients over 40 as competing events. Additionally, Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis and linear regression were used to compare TTI across racial groups. Results: The study included patients with breast (44%), cervical (44%) and prostate cancer (12%). Mean age at diagnosis was 62.6, 56.6 and 73.0 years, respectively. Breast cancer patients experienced the longest delays for mastectomy (median 18.4 weeks), followed by prostate cancer patients waiting for radiotherapy (median 16.6 weeks). Significantly longer TTI for radiotherapy was observed in patients younger than 40 with cervical (HR = 2.30, 95% CI: 2.16-2.44, Conclusion: This study identified significant delays in treatment initiation (TTI) for breast, prostate and cervical cancer patients at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH) in South Africa. These delays were concerning, particularly for younger patients and individuals across all racial backgrounds. Delays in treatment initiation have been linked to increased mortality risk in other studies, highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue. Furthermore, this study serves as a valuable model for future research throughout SSA to collectively address the challenges of treatment delays and improve cancer care for the region.
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