Delay in treatment of invasive cervical cancer due to intimate partner violence.
BACKGROUND
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is underreported and creates a complex psychosocial medium that adversely affects the health of its victims. We present the first case report in the literature, though likely not the first time, in which a patient delayed her cancer treatment due to domestic abuse and her disease progressed.


METHODS
A 41-year-old female with vaginal bleeding was diagnosed with cervical cancer. After several years of declining recommendations for treatment, she was questioned separate from her partner and she revealed a long-standing history of abuse.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians must be aware of the signs of spousal abuse to lessen negative impact on the treatment of their patients. Once domestic violence is discovered, there are many resources available to help patients with their needs.
Martino
Martin A
MA
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. Martinma@moffitt.usf.edu
Balar
Arjun
A
Cragun
Janiel M
JM
Hoffman
Mitchel S
MS
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013179:Spouse Abuse; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*