Diagnostic delays in breast cancer among young women: An emphasis on healthcare providers
Luis Costa,
Rakesh Kumar,
Cynthia Villarreal-Garza,
Saket Sinha,
Sunil Saini,
Jayanti Semwal,
Vartika Saxsena,
Vaishali Zamre,
Chintamani Chintamani,
Mukurdipi Ray,
Chikako Shimizu,
Lejla Hadzikadic Gusic,
Masakazu Toi,
Allan Lipton
Affiliations
Luis Costa
Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital de Santa Maria- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular-João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Breast Cancer in Young Women Foundation, Denver, CO, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital de Santa Maria- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal.
Rakesh Kumar
Breast Cancer in Young Women Foundation, Denver, CO, USA; Cancer Research Institute, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun, India; Department of Human and Molecular Genetics and VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; Corresponding author. Breast Cancer in Young Women Foundation, Denver, CO, USA.
Cynthia Villarreal-Garza
Breast Cancer Center, Hospital Zambrano Hellion TecSalud, Tecnologico de Monterrey, San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico; Médicos e Investigadores en la Lucha contra el Cáncer de Mama, Mexico City, Mexico
Saket Sinha
HouseCall Doctors P.C., Highland, IN, USA
Sunil Saini
Cancer Research Institute, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun, India
Jayanti Semwal
Department of Community Medicine, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun, India
Vartika Saxsena
Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, India
Vaishali Zamre
Breast Cancer Surgery Unit, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, Delhi, India
Chintamani Chintamani
Department of Surgery, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
Mukurdipi Ray
Department of Surgical Oncology, All India Insititute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Chikako Shimizu
Department of Breast and Medical Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Lejla Hadzikadic Gusic
Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas Medical Center, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, USA
Masakazu Toi
Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Disease Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Allan Lipton
Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Penn State University School of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
Despite advances in breast cancer care, breast cancer in young women (BCYW) faces unique challenges, diagnostic delays, and limited awareness in many countries. Here, we discuss the challenges and consequences associated with the delayed diagnosis of BCYW. The consequences of delayed diagnosis in young women - which generally varies among developed, developing, or underdeveloped countries - are severe due to a faster breast tumor growth rate than tumors in older women, also contributing to advanced cancer stages and poorer outcomes. Though there are many underlying reasons for diagnostic delays due to age, the article delves explicitly deep into the diagnostic delay of BCYW, focusing on healthcare providers, potential contributing factors, its consequences, and the urgent need to start minimizing such incidences. The article suggests several strategies to address these issues, including increasing awareness, developing educational programs for healthcare providers to identify signs and symptoms in young women, developing clear diagnostic guidelines, and improving screening strategies.
