The doctor and the patient in early breast cancer diagnosis.
Breast cancer mortality has not fallen in 30 years, and a renewed attempt at early diagnosis should be made. A study of women's attitudes to breast cancer and surgery has shown their behaviour to be influenced mainly by unconscious factors, including ego-defences, anxiety and depression. Doctors know that early breast cancer treatment is desirable, but the proportion of women having their breasts examined, or being taught breast self-examination, is small. Further attempts at reducing delay in breast cancer treatment must take into account the unconscious processes affecting behaviour, and individual doctors could play a greater part by the education of women in their surgeries.
D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010173:Palpation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors