Delays in the Process of Care of Patients with Breast Cancer in Two Public Hospitals in the Province of Santa Fe

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The delay to start an effective treatment for breast cancer reduces survival rate and is associated to advanced stages at diagnosis and to the need for more aggressive and costly treatments. OBJECTIVES: To describe the health care path of women with diagnosis of breast cancer since the first sign or symptom until the end of the treatment. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was performed, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques. It estimated the time used in each stage of the health care process among women with breast cancer, diagnosed and/or treated during 2012 in two hospitals of the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients were included in the sample. Of them, 20.3% received her diagnosis within 30 days of the mammogram and/or ultrasound and 50% were operated within one month of the diagnosis. There were delays of more than 60 days in 60% and 72.4% of the patients who had to undergo adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, respectively. None of the patients with stage IV began the treatment within the first 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the guidelines of the National Program of Breast Cancer, there are delays at all stages. It is necessary to develop strategies to shorten the time for diagnosis confirmation in women with suspected breast cancer and for the access to treatment in patients with cancer confirmed.