Aim: In this report, we aimed to investigate the time from the onset of complaints till the admission to a doctor, the time
from the onset of complaints till the establishment of a diagnosis and the time from the onset of complaints till the
establishment of proper therapy for patients diagnosed with cancer, as well as the their opinion on this time frame.
Materials and Method: From October 1st, 2003 till December 31st, 2003, 256 patients were asked to compelete a
questionarre regarding the time from the onset of complaints till the admission to a doctor, the time from the onset of
complaints till the establishment of a diagnosis and the time from the onset of complaints till the establishment of proper
therapy.
Results: The median time from the onset of complaints till the admission to a doctor was 0.5 months. The median time
from the onset of complaints till the establishment of a diagnosis was 3 months. This time frame was regarded as a delay
in diagnosis by 126 patients. There was a positive correlation between this time frame and the delay regard. The median
time from the onset of complaints till the establishment of proper therapy was 0.5 months. This time frame was regarded
as a delay in treatment by 15 patients. There was no correlation between this time frame and the delay regard.
Conclusion: When patients are grouped accoring to their educational status and economic status, despite the finding of
no difference between the groups as for the delay in diagnosis regard, there is a significant difference between the groups
as for the delay in treatment regard, with emphasis on low educational status and low economic status.
Key Words: Cancer, Diagnosis, Treatment, Delay, Sociodemographic factors
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