Abstract
Introduction
The diagnosis or treatment of breast cancer is sometimes delayed. A lengthy delay may have a negative psychological impact on patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the sociodemographic, clinical and pathological factors associated with delay in the provision of surgical treatment for localised breast cancer, in a prospective cohort of patients.
Methods
This observational, prospective, multicentre study was conducted in ten hospitals belonging to the Spanish national public health system, located in four Autonomous Communities (regions). The study included 1236 patients, diagnosed through a screening programme or found to be symptomatic, between April 2013 and May 2015. The study variables analysed included each patient’s personal history, care situation, tumour history and data on the surgical intervention, pathological anatomy, hospital admission and follow-up. Treatment delay was defined as more than 30 days elapsed between biopsy and surgery.
Results
Over half of the study population experienced surgical treatment delay. This delay was greater for patients with no formal education and among widows, persons not requiring assistance for usual activities, those experiencing anxiety or depression, those who had a high BMI or an above-average number of comorbidities, those who were symptomatic, who did not receive NMR spectroscopy, who presented a histology other than infiltrating ductal carcinoma or who had poorly differentiated carcinomas.
Conclusions
Certain sociodemographic and clinical variables are associated with surgical treatment delay. This study identifies factors that influence surgical delays, highlighting the importance of preventing these factors and of raising awareness among the population at risk and among health personnel.
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Acknowledgment
REDISSEC-CaMISS Group
Xavier Castells, Mercè Comas, Laia Domingo, Francesc Macià, Marta Roman, Anabel Romero, María Sala, Teresa Barata, Isabel Diez de la Lastra, Mariola de la Vega, Marisa Bare, Núria Torà, Joana Ferrer, Francesc Castanyer, Carmen Carmona, Susana García, Maximina Martín, Nerea González, Miren Orive, María Amparo Valverde, Alberto Saez, Inma Barredo, Manuel de Toro, Josefa Ferreiro, Jose María Quintana, Jeanette Pérez, Amado Rivero, Cristina Valcárcel, María Padilla, Maximino Redondo, Teresa Téllez, Irene Zarcos, Cristina Churruca, Amaia Perales, Javier Recio, Irune Ruiz, Cristina Sarasqueta, Jose María Urraca, Ma Jesús Michelena, Julio Moreno, Gaizka Mallabiabarrena, Patricia Cobos, Borja Otero, Javier Gorostiaga, Itsaso Troya.
Funding
This study was funded by the Carlos III Health Institute through Projects PI12/01842 and PI12/02493, and by the Andalusian Ministry of Health through Project 16/298 (co-funded by the European Social Fund/European Regional Development Fund “Investing in your future”). These institutions played no role in the study design, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the manuscript or in the decision to submit the document for publication.
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Padilla-Ruiz, M., Zarcos-Pedrinaci, I., Rivas-Ruiz, F. et al. Factors that Influence Treatment Delay for Patients with Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 28, 3714–3721 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-020-09409-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-020-09409-2