Reasons for Delay in Indian Women Presenting with Primary Stage III or IV Breast Cancer: An Observational Study

ABSTRACT

Background: Developing countries like India share higher burden of deaths due to breast cancer, despite having lower incidence than the west. Greater proportion of patients presenting with advanced stages of cancer is one of the reasons for this disparity. Since the factors leading to such delay have not been well studied in Indian patients, we decided to perform this study. Methodology: This was an observational study conducted from Jan 2021 to July 2022. Purposive Non-Random sampling was used and patients who had stage 3 or 4 breast cancer and were between 18-80 years of age were recruited. Interview was done on a one-to-one basis in a secluded area. Descriptive statistics were used, and chi-square was used to study the association of socio-demographic and clinical variables with the delay status of the breast cancer. Result(s) A total of 75 participants were enrolled in the study with mean age of 52.5 years and SD of 12.5 years. Out of these, 74 had lump as their first symptom. Only 14 of these 74 presented early i.e., within 3 months of onset of symptoms. Rest 60 participants presented late (more than 3 months after onset of symptoms). Between these two groups, difference in incidences of pregnancy associated lumps (0% in < 3 months vs 13.1% in >= 3 months, p=0.002), patients being afraid of treatment related complications (0% in < 3months vs 6.6% in >= 3 months, p=0.039) and their inability to decide because of lack of knowledge (0% in < 3months vs 6.6% in >= 3 months, p=0.039) were statistically significant. To our surprise, the thought that the lump was harmless and painless, embarrassment, limited access to healthcare and distance from the nearest healthcare facility, financial limitations, educational status, socio-economic status, family history of breast cancer, fear of mutilating surgeries and use of traditional medicine or spiritual care didn't have significant effect on whether the patients presented within or after 3 months of onset of symptoms. On the question of COVID pandemic related delay, only 16% of all patients cited this as an additional reason for delay and this was again, not different between the patients who presented within or after 3 months of onset of symptoms. Conclusion(s) Health promotion in terms of proper evaluation of pregnancy related lumps and awareness about the management options of breast cancer may help patients to present earlier to healthcare facilities and may help in improving breast cancer related outcomes in developing countries like India.