title: [An analysis of treatment delays of thoracic cancers: a prospective study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lung cancer is the main cause of cancer death in France. The diagnosis is often late and the delay between the onset of symptoms and management is considered an aggravating factor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our prospective study collected the dates of the start of management of 139 consecutive patients receiving first line treatment for thoracic cancer in our hospital between November 2008 and May 2009. The aim of this study was to evaluate the delays in medical or surgical treatments in patients with thoracic cancer and to determine the cause of these delays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median delay between the first abnormal chest X-ray and treatment was 9.6 weeks. The delays were significantly shorter in the late stages and in small cell cancer (P=0.001). There was a tendency for shorter delays in women and for longer delays in older patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluation of the delays in treatment, particularly in the early stages, is part of the quality control of management of these diseases.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'oncologie cervico-thoracique-clinique des voies, service de pneumologie, université Paul-Sabatier, hôpital Larrey, CHU de Toulouse, chemin de Pouvourville, 31059 Toulouse cedex, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leveque
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie thoracique, université Paul-Sabatier, hôpital Larrey, CHU de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brouchet
authors.affiliation: Service d'épidémiologie, faculté de médecine, CHU de Toulouse, allées Jules-Guesde, 31059 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lepage
authors.affiliation: Unité d'oncologie cervico-thoracique-clinique des voies, service de pneumologie, université Paul-Sabatier, hôpital Larrey, CHU de Toulouse, chemin de Pouvourville, 31059 Toulouse cedex, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hermant
authors.affiliation: Unité d'oncologie cervico-thoracique-clinique des voies, service de pneumologie, université Paul-Sabatier, hôpital Larrey, CHU de Toulouse, chemin de Pouvourville, 31059 Toulouse cedex, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bigay-Game
authors.affiliation: Unité d'oncologie cervico-thoracique-clinique des voies, service de pneumologie, université Paul-Sabatier, hôpital Larrey, CHU de Toulouse, chemin de Pouvourville, 31059 Toulouse cedex, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Plat
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie thoracique, université Paul-Sabatier, hôpital Larrey, CHU de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dahan
authors.affiliation: Service d'exploration fonctionnelle respiratoire, clinique des voies respiratoires, hôpital Larrey, CHU de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Riviere
authors.affiliation: Unité d'oncologie cervico-thoracique-clinique des voies, service de pneumologie, université Paul-Sabatier, hôpital Larrey, CHU de Toulouse, chemin de Pouvourville, 31059 Toulouse cedex, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Didier
authors.affiliation: Unité d'oncologie cervico-thoracique-clinique des voies, service de pneumologie, université Paul-Sabatier, hôpital Larrey, CHU de Toulouse, chemin de Pouvourville, 31059 Toulouse cedex, France. Electronic address: mazieres.j@chu-toulouse.fr.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mazieres
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003948:Diagnostic Techniques, Respiratory System / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012737:Sex Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment
keywords: Cancer bronchique; Chirurgie; Delay; Délai; Lung cancer; Prognosis; Pronostic; Surgery