Research on the relations of late diagnoses of breast and cervical cancer with the state of the cancer care services / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

ABSTRACT

BackgroundThe prognosis of breast and cervical cancer is relatively good if they are diagnosed at early stages.In Mongolia, however the survival rate of these cancers has been lower than in developed countries. Prevalence of late diagnoses of breast and cervical cancer is one of the most significant factors of the low survival rate of cancer patients in Mongolia. In this study, we sought to determine (1) the delay in diagnosing related with patient and (2) delay in treatment related with medical care including possible risk factors.GoalTo study the diagnosis delay of breast and cervical cancers related to medical care system.MethodsBreast and cervical cancer patients treated in the inpatient wards of National Cancer Center completed a study questionnaire on the first symptoms, timeline of medical care, and socio-demographic information. Diagnostic delay related with patient is indicated by extension of time interval of 30 days between the first symptoms and the first medical consultation. Diagnostic delay related with medical care system is indicated by extension of time interval of 30 days between the first medical the consultation and the first diagnosis. The delays of time were analyzed using the Mantel-Haenszel test.ResultsThe mean value of cervical cancer patient delay was 1.7 months. 40% of the patients were diagnosed later than 1 month failing to seek medical assistance as soon as the first symptom has been found (p=0.03). But the mean value of breast cancer patient delay was 2.1 months and 57% of patients were diagnosed later than 1 month. Diagnostic delay was associated with lack of diagnostic capacity of general practitioners and of province and district hospitals (p=0.001).ConclusionsDelays occur in all stages of the diagnostic process. Our results may represent an important tool in guiding the actions for an early diagnosis of cervical and breast cancers. There is a need for improving breast and cervical cancer awareness and training of general practitioners to reduce breast and cervical cancers mortality by promoting early detection.