Misconceptions about breast lumps and delayed medical presentation in urban breast cancer patients.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev
; 19(3): 640-7, 2010 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20200436
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Despite current recommendations for women to be screened for breast cancer with mammography every 1 to 2 years, less than half of all newly diagnosed breast cancers are initially detected through screening mammography. Prompt medical attention to a new breast symptom can result in earlier stage at diagnosis, yet many patients delay seeking medical care after becoming aware of a breast symptom.METHODS:
In a population-based study of breast cancer, we examined factors potentially associated with patient delay in seeking health care for a breast symptom among 436 symptomatic urban breast cancer patients (146 white, 197 black, and 95 Hispanic). Race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health care access and utilization, and misconceptions about the meaning of breast lumps were the key independent variables.RESULTS:
Sixteen percent of patients reported delaying more than 3 months before seeking medical advice about breast symptoms. Misconceptions about breast lumps and lacking a regular provider, health insurance, and recent preventive care were all associated with prolonged patient delay (P < 0.005 for all). Misconceptions were much more common among ethnic minorities and women of lower socioeconomic status.CONCLUSION:
Reducing patient delay and disparities in delay will require educating women about the importance of getting breast lumps evaluated in a timely manner and providing greater access to regular health care.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Neoplasias da Mama
/
Atitude Frente a Saúde
/
Disparidades em Assistência à Saúde
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Guideline
/
Screening_studies
Aspecto:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev
Assunto da revista:
BIOQUIMICA
/
EPIDEMIOLOGIA
/
NEOPLASIAS
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos