title: Delay in presentation to the hospital and factors affecting it in breast cancer patients attending tertiary care center in Central India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite lower incidence of breast cancer in India, the total number of cases and the net mortality is high. To reduce this increasing load of mortality due to breast cancer we need to lay emphasis on early detection and increased use of systemic therapy. Early detection itself depends on early presentation to a health facility; thus, it is important to identify factors affecting delay in a presentation to hospital.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinico-social profile of breast carcinoma patients attending a tertiary care hospital and to study the time lag since detection of lump by women and presentation to the hospital and factors affecting them.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 120 primary breast cancer patients visiting a tertiary care hospital over a period of 7 months (August 2010 to February 2011) were taken up for study. A detailed retrospective analysis of patients was done according to planned proforma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maximum study subjects were in the age group of 41-50 years. Right and left breasts were equally affected. The most common histo-pathological type of breast carcinoma observed was invasive ductal carcinoma (NOS) in 105 (87.50%) cases. Majority of the cases were in stage III or stage II. The median time lag self-detection of lump in the breast by women and presentation to the hospital was 6 months. Women living in a rural area, those with lower socio-economic status and those with older age tend to assess health-care late.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carcinoma of the breast is a common cancer affecting young to middle age group with invasive ductal carcinoma being the most common histological type. Delay in presentation and late stage presentation is a major concern. Hence, proper awareness and screening programmers are needed to identify, inform and educate these categories of women.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Preventive and Social Medicine, Government Medical College, Latur, India.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Thakur
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Humne
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Godale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers