Abstract

OBJECTIVE. Delayed presentation is an important obstacle to improving cancer treatment outcomes. We aimed to study the magnitude of this problem in Hong Kong and the factors associated with delayed presentation of patients with symptomatic breast cancers.

DESIGN. Retrospective study using self-administered questionnaires.

SETTING. Clinical Oncology Department in a regional public hospital in Hong Kong.

PATIENTS. A total of 158 Chinese women with breast cancer referred to our hospital between October 2006 and December 2007 consented to participate in this study. Among these, 59 (37%) patients were referred after having surgery in private sector.

RESULTS. The mean total delay (from first symptom to treatment) was 22 weeks. The mean patient delay (from first symptom to first consultation) was 13 weeks, constituting the largest component (60%) of the total delay. After symptom onset, the delay exceeded 12 weeks for consulting a doctor in 29%, and for receipt of treatment in 52% of them. Low family income (

CONCLUSIONS. Delayed presentation and treatment of symptomatic breast cancer remains an important issue in Hong Kong. Apart from socio-economic factors, limited access to public medical care was likely an important contributing factor in delays related to patients as well as to doctor/system.

Details

Title
Delayed presentation of symptomatic breast cancers in Hong Kong: experience in a public cancer centre
Author
Yau, T K; Choi, C W; Ng, Esther; Yeung, Rebecca; Soong, Inda S; Lee, Anne WM
First page
373
Publication year
2010
Publication date
Oct 2010
Publisher
Hong Kong Academy of Medicine
ISSN
10242708
e-ISSN
22268707
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English; Chinese
ProQuest document ID
2786953577
Copyright
© 2010. Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the associated terms available at https://www.hkmj.org/about/website.html