The Causes of Delay to Diagnosis the Cancer of Bladder in Patients with Symptoms

Abstract

Background: Secondary prevention, as defined by early diagnosis, has very important role in response to treatment and reduction of complication of bladder cancer. In this study we sought to investigate the interval between onset of symptoms and definite diagnosis and their related factors. Methods: This study was done on 82 patients extracted from cancer registry. Findings: Mean interval between onset of symptoms and definite diagnosis was 3.8 months. Mean delay from onset of symptoms to first medical visit was 2.76 months and mean GPs delay in making a patient refer to urologist was 0.98 months. Conclusion: The present study revealed patients' late referral to physicians and general physicians' delay in referring the patients as two major factors in delayed diagnosis. This finding emphasizes the importance of public information provision about early referral after the onset of symptoms, as well as promoted education for general physicians.

Keywords

• Bladder cancer
• Early diagnosis