The effect of delayed treatment in breast cancer patients: How much is too late? An experience of a single-center study effect of surgery delay in survival.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Proper treatment is critical for control and curative intent in breast cancer. Delays in receiving treatment can influence patients' prognoses. METHODS: Retrospective, observational, single-center study based on data from medical records of 747 patients with non-metastatic invasive ductal breast carcinoma (I-III) in the initial analysis, comprising 554 patients undergoing adjuvant and 193 neoadjuvant treatment. Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression and time-dependent Cox regression were performed to obtain the predictive value of time to surgery and time to first treatment. Immortal time bias was managed and only 721 patients were included in the multivariable analysis. RESULTS: During a median observation of 64.4 months, there were 140 death events and 177 disease progression events. Time to surgery (TTS) and time from completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy to surgery (TNS) showed a significant impact on overall survival, associated with a 6% increased chance of death [HR: 1.06 (1.03-1.09), p < 0.001] and 4% [HR: 1.04 (1.00-1.09), p = 0.048] with a one-month increment, respectively. By multivariable analysis, continuous TTS had a different weight as a prognostic factor in stage IIIA/IIIB [adjusted HR: 1.249 (1.072-1.454), p = 0.004] compared to stage I/II [adjusted HR: 1.093 (1.048-1.141), p < 0.0005]. Likewise, TNS was significant after adjusting for other factors [adjusted HR: 1.092 (1.038-1.148), p = 0.001]. CONCLUSION: Delay in receiving surgery with curative intent impairs the survival of patients with breast cancer.