title: [The problem of delays of effective medical treatment in female patients with breast cancer].
abstract: In a study on psycho-social aspects of breast-cancer, information is presented on delays in the initiation of medical treatment. Two types of delay are distinguished: 1. Patient delay: i.e. the time elapsing between initial discovery of a lump in the breast by the patient herself and her seeking medical opinion; and 2. iatric delay: i.e. the time span between first presentation of the symptom by the patient to the doctor and onset of effective treatment. In order to obtain this information, semi-structured psychoanalytically oriented interviews, including rating scales for ego functions were carried out in a group of 32 patients with metastatic breast carcinoma. Patient delay is connected with the significance given to the symptom by the patient. This significance seems to depend on the degree to which the patient is informed, and on her body image, influenced by previous pregnancies and childbirth. Iatric delay is probably largely independent of these factors. Such delay cannot even be influenced by patients who take their symptoms seriously and request medical attention immediately. When trying to define a population at risk for breast cancer, the importance of denial is stressed as an additional factor.
mesh_terms: D001828:Body Image; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D013997:Time Factors
vernacular_title: Zur Frage der Verzögerung effektiver medizinischer Behandlung bei Patientinnen mit Mammakarzinom.