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Cancer research

Delays in Gastric Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: New Research Reveals Key Predictors and Implications

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Gastric cancer is a common malignancy worldwide, with significant morbidity and mortality. Research has shown that the prognosis of gastric cancer is strongly related to the stage at diagnosis. A new study from Fujian Medical University in China has shed light on the diagnostic routes and symptom-to-treatment delays in gastric cancer patients, highlighting the need to improve symptom appraisal, help-seeking behavior, and diagnostic pathways.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed 533 gastric cancer patients in southern China, with a median patient interval of 21.5 days, diagnosis interval of 5.0 days, and treatment interval of 10.0 days.
  • About a quarter of patients had patient, diagnosis, or treatment delays, with highest household monthly income, high/middle level of life stress, and symptoms of epigastric pain being positively associated with patient delay.
  • Ever having gastric cancer screening in the past 5 years and symptoms of hematemesis/melena were negatively associated with patient delay.
  • The majority of gastric cancer patients were diagnosed by visiting the doctor with symptoms, highlighting the importance of symptom recognition and help-seeking behavior.
  • The study's findings emphasize the need for improved diagnostic pathways and symptom-to-treatment delays in gastric cancer care.

Statistics:

  • 533 gastric cancer patients were analyzed in the study.
  • The median patient interval was 21.5 days.
  • The median diagnosis interval was 5.0 days.
  • The median treatment interval was 10.0 days.
  • About 24.1% of patients had a patient delay.
  • 22.1% of patients had a diagnosis delay.
  • 28.9% of patients had a treatment delay.

Sources:

  • Fujian Medical University
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
  • Public Health (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com)
  • W B Saunders Co Ltd (32 Jamestown Rd, London NW1 7BY, England)
  • Diagnostic Routes and Symptom-to-treatment Delays In Gastric Cancer: Findings From a Cross-sectional Study In Southeastern China. Public Health, 2025;248.

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