Pulmonary cancer from the general practitioner's point of view. Experience from the health centre area of Kungsbacka, Sweden.
OBJECTIVE
To study the incidence of pulmonary cancer in a community with special reference to the diagnostic process and the role of the general practitioner.


METHODS
Study of the records of all patients within the community with pulmonary cancer reported to the Swedish Cancer Registry during the years 1980-1984.


METHODS
The community of Kungsbacka in southwestern Sweden with about 48,000 inhabitants.


METHODS
40 subjects with pulmonary cancer.


METHODS
Incidence, main symptoms, level of care, doctor delay, survival rate.


RESULTS
The incidence was 16 per 100,000 per year. Most patients first visited a general practitioner. Most common initial symptom was cough. Mean doctor delay was 12.5 weeks. The five-year mortality rate was 95%.


CONCLUSIONS
The high mortality emphasizes the importance of an early diagnosis. The general practitioners are very important in the diagnostic process.
Månsson
J
J
Health Centre of Kungsbacka, University of Göteborg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Bengtsson
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology