title: Patterns of seeking medical care among Egyptian breast cancer patients: relationship to late-stage presentation.
abstract: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Egyptian women, accounting for 37.6% of female tumors, and is often diagnosed at later stages. The objective of this study was to investigate breast cancer patient navigation through the health care system in the Nile Delta. Interviews were conducted with 163 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients at the Tanta Cancer Center (TCC), the major cancer center of the region. Patients described their medical care pathway from the initial symptom experienced until their arrival at TCC. Patients whose initial contact was with a general surgeon (OR: 7.6, 95% CI: 2.1, 27.6), primary care provider (OR: 12.2, 95% CI: 2.9, 51.0), or gynecologist (OR: 8.6, 95% CI: 1.4, 53.4) were significantly more likely to experience a delay in reaching the TCC as compared to those visiting a surgical oncologist. Overcoming health care system and patient navigation barriers in developing countries may reduce the time for breast cancer patients to reach a cancer center for early management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 5626 SPH I, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2029, USA.
authors.forename: Shimaa M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mousa
authors.forename: Ibrahim A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Seifeldin
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hablas
authors.forename: Eman S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Elbana
authors.forename: Amr S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Soliman
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003144:Communication Barriers; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014932:Women's Health Services