Causes of Patient's Delay in Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancers: A Community-based Cross Sectional Study in Iran

Introduction: Head and neck cancers (HNCs) are among common cancers in the world and also in Iran. Early diagnosis is the most important factor for improving survival in cancer patients. The aim of present study is to evaluate the causes of patient delay in the diagnosis of HNCs at three cancer centers in Mashhad city, Iran. Methods: One hundred-forty three HNCs from three cancer centers were interviewed in Mashhad. Data obtained by interview and from Medical documents, were entered into a questionnaire and analyzed using Chi-Square, compare means and Correlation tests. Findings: The study included 143 subjects with HNCs and a mean age of 51.5±18.3. 58% of the patients were males. The mean patient delay was 161.8±380.1 days. 30.8% of the patients visited a physician during the first month. Low education, lower income, addiction, and living in rural areas were related to the patient delay. Conclusion: The total time from patients’ first signs or symptoms to doctor visits is comparably high in HNC patients. Public health education must be developed to decrease patient delay and so improve the prognosis of oral cancer treatment.