title: Preoperative delays in the US Medicare population with breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although no specific delay threshold after diagnosis of breast cancer has been demonstrated to affect outcome, delays can cause anxiety, and surgical waiting time has been suggested as a quality measure. This study was performed to determine the interval from presentation to surgery in Medicare patients with nonmetastatic invasive breast cancer who did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy and factors associated with a longer time to surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medicare claims linked to Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data were reviewed for factors associated with delay between the first physician claim for a breast problem and first therapeutic surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1992 and 2005, 72,586 Medicare patients with breast cancer had a median interval (delay) between first physician visit and surgery of 29 days, increasing from 21 days in 1992 to 32 days in 2005. Women (29 days v 24 days for men; P < .001), younger patients (29 days; P < .001), blacks and Hispanics (each 37 days; P < .001), patients in the northeast (33 days; P < .001), and patients in large metropolitan areas (32 days; P < .001) had longer delays. Patients having breast conservation and mastectomies had adjusted median delays of 28 and 30 days, respectively, with simultaneous reconstruction adding 12 days. Preoperative components, including imaging modalities, biopsy type, and clinician visits, were also each associated with a specific additional delay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Waiting times for breast cancer surgery have increased in Medicare patients, and measurable delays are associated with demographics and preoperative evaluation components. If such increases continue, periodic assessment may be required to rule out detrimental effects on outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA. richard.bleicher@fccc.edu
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bleicher
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ruth
authors.forename: Elin R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Sigurdson
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Yu-Ning
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Sameer A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boraas
authors.forename: Neal S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Topham
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Egleston
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008408:Mastectomy; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018426:SEER Program; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014850:Waiting Lists