title: Stage at diagnosis and delay in seeking medical care among women with breast cancer, delhi, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with cancer often delay seeking medical advice in developing countries. It can adversely influence the outcome of disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was performed to determine the stage at diagnosis and delay in seeking medical care among women with breast cancer in Delhi, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study based on a census (case series) approach to reach all women (172) diagnosed with primary breast cancer "detected in surgery Out Patient Department (OPD) from January 2007 to December 2009" at Lok Nayak Hospital, Delhi, India. Patients were interviewed using a self-structure questionnaire. Seeking behavior variables were awareness of problem, first consultation, followed physician's advice, detection of problem, system of medicine and gap between knowing the problem and consultation (patient delay). Statistical Analysis was performed using the Microsoft SPSS-pc version 14.0 statistical program. The analytic methods were used (mean, standard deviation, X(2), Fisher's Exact Test, K-S, Kruskal-Wallis) for variables. All statistical tests were performed at a significance level of 5% (P < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  the mean age of women was 46.99 years. 38.4% of women were ≤ 40 years. 61% of women were in stage IV of cancer at the time of diagnosis. The mean duration of gap between knowing the problem and consulting a physician (patients delay) was 10.90 months. There was no significant association between stage of cancer and consultation gap. A significant association was found between the stage of breast cancer and income; women with lower income had a higher stage of breast cancer (P < 005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant association was found between ages of women with their delays in consultation. Delay is still prevalent amongst women with breast cancer. It seems necessary to design educating programs for women in both clinical and community settings, about breast cancer and early detection practices.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Sedigheh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pakseresht
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Gopal Krishna
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Ingle
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Suneela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sarafraz
keywords: Breast Neoplasm; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Women