Patients' delay in the presentation of testis cancer in Ireland.
A study of 217 cases of testis cancer in Ireland revealed a longer duration of symptoms (median 2.8 months, mean 10 months) than elsewhere: 32% of patients waited at least 6 months before seeking medical advice. Delay was associated with metastases (P = 0.001), diminished prospects of cure (P = 0.001) and increased mortality (P = 0.002) but not with marker status or complexity of treatment required. Eleven per cent did not notice a detectable swelling and 25% waited at least 3 months after such a discovery. These facts and the incidence of maldescent (12%, with more than two-thirds untreated) highlight the need for better health education in this area.
D001294:Attitude to Health; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors