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The influence of delay on tumour size of breast cancer is clearly
seen in the results of many studies because the admission of women with
large tumours greatly reduces survival rates (Richards et al. 1999,
Ramirez et al. 1999). Over the last 10 years there has been an improvement
in the early diagnosis for breast cancer, but subjective variables such as
patient's age and level of education, doctor's specialization and the
practice of preventive mammography have more influence on the length of
the diagnostic process. The delay in diagnosis of breast cancer is
associated, however, with bigger tumours and the delay is more evident in
medical underserved women who have a low compliance in screening
program. To reduce the number of bigger tumours in screening caused by
delay in diagnosis, an educational training program especially for medical
underserved women should be developed.
Moreover, in older women more attention must be paid to education in
prevention while in young women more attention must be paid to the
psychological aspects to reduce the suspicion bias and the anxiety after an
abnormal screen by biopsy.
Competing interests:
No competing interests
23 April 2002
Maurizio Montella
chief epidemiology unit
Crispo Anna
Istituto Tumori Fondazione Pascale, Via M. Semmola - 80131 Napoli-Italy
Factors associated with delay in diagnosis of breast cancer
The influence of delay on tumour size of breast cancer is clearly
seen in the results of many studies because the admission of women with
large tumours greatly reduces survival rates (Richards et al. 1999,
Ramirez et al. 1999). Over the last 10 years there has been an improvement
in the early diagnosis for breast cancer, but subjective variables such as
patient's age and level of education, doctor's specialization and the
practice of preventive mammography have more influence on the length of
the diagnostic process. The delay in diagnosis of breast cancer is
associated, however, with bigger tumours and the delay is more evident in
medical underserved women who have a low compliance in screening
program. To reduce the number of bigger tumours in screening caused by
delay in diagnosis, an educational training program especially for medical
underserved women should be developed.
Moreover, in older women more attention must be paid to education in
prevention while in young women more attention must be paid to the
psychological aspects to reduce the suspicion bias and the anxiety after an
abnormal screen by biopsy.
Competing interests: No competing interests