Understanding locally advanced breast cancer: What influences a woman's decision to delay treatment?

Health Care Strategies to Promote Earlier Presentation of Symptomatic Breast Cancer: Perspectives of Women and Family Physicians

“…Some studies have suggested that women need more information about atypical breast cancer symptoms and need to be encouraged to seek medical advice when a symptom is ambiguous 2,6,15 . Women may also benefit from increased awareness of the advantages of early detection and of improvements in breast cancer treatments 19 .…”

“…In quantitative and qualitative studies to date, a number of potential risk factors for delayed presentation of breast cancer have been identified 1,2,4,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] , including older age at diagnosis 4 , fear of cancer 11,13,14 , symptom other than a breast lump 2,9,10,14 , competing life demands 13 , belief in alternative therapies [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] , lower level of education 17 , spiritual beliefs 17,19 , and African American or Hispanic descent 17 . Other factors include failure to disclose concerns to a friend or relative 2,9 , associated anxiety or depressive symptoms 19 , reservations about seeing the family physician, and presenting to the family physician with a non-breast problem 2 .…”

“…Other factors include failure to disclose concerns to a friend or relative 2,9 , associated anxiety or depressive symptoms 19 , reservations about seeing the family physician, and presenting to the family physician with a non-breast problem 2 .…”

The Relationship Between Health Locus of Control, Depression, and Sociodemographic Factors and Amount of Time Breast Cancer Patients Wait Before Seeking Diagnosis and Treatment

“…MHLC has been applied in several research on women with breast cancer screening behaviours (Rowe et al 2005) individuals' knowledge of breast cancer and adjustment (Bettencourt et al 2008). They have also been studies of delay to breast cancer treatment (Mohamed et al 2005). Nemcek found that women who strongly believed that health professionals controlled their health were less likely to adhere to recommended guidelines for breast self-examination (Nemeck 1989).…”

Understanding the Breast Cancer Experience: a Qualitative Study of Malaysian Women

“…Breast cancer corresponds to 32.1% of all female newly diagnosed with cancers and 58% presented at early stages (Stage I and II) while 42% presented with late breast cancer, Stage III and IV (Zainal Ariffin and Nor Saleha, 2011). The incidence of breast cancer in Malaysia and perceived benefit and compatibility on alternative therapies (Mohamed et al, 2005;Farooqui et al, 2011;Norsa'adah et al, 2011;Taib et al, 2011b) Previous studies reported that survival rates is improving from 59.1% to 75.7% among breast cancer patients in all stages and ethnicities attending University Malaya Medical Centre (Taib et al, 2008;2011a). While early detection and treatment together with treatment advancement has indicated an increment in survival rate, yet the diagnosis of breast cancer still conjures feelings of fear, stress and uncertainty (Taib et al, 2011b;Yusoff et al, 2011;Norsa'adah et al, 2012).…”