Author/Authors :
Li-Cher, Loh International Medical University - Clinical School - Lung Research Unit, Malaysia , Li-Yen, Chan International Medical University - Clinical School - Lung Research Unit, Malaysia , Ru-Yu, Tan International Medical University - Clinical School - Lung Research Unit, Malaysia , Govindaraju, Selvaratnam Nilai Cancer Institute, Malaysia , Ratnavelu, Kananathan Nilai Cancer Institute, Malaysia , Kumar, Shalini Seremban Hospital - Department of Pathology, Malaysia , Raman, Sree Seremban Hospital - Department of Medicine, Malaysia , Vijayasingham, Pillai Seremban Hospital - Department of Medicine, Malaysia , Thayaparan, Tamizi Seremban Hospital - Department of Medicine, Malaysia
Abstract :
While evidence indicates that early stage disease has better prognosis, the effect of delay in presentation and treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) on survival is debatable. A retrospective study of 122 Malaysian patients with NSCLC was performed to examine the presentation and treatment delay, and its relation with patient survival. Median (25-75% IQR) interval between onset of symptoms and first hospital consultation (patient delay) and between first hospital consultation and treatment or decision to treat (doctor delay) were 2 (1.0- 5.0) and 1.1 (0.6-2.4) months respectively. The median survival rates in patient delay of 1, 1 to 3, and 3 months were 4.1 (9.9-1.7), 5.1 (10.9-3.2) and 5.7 (12.3- 2.1) months respectively (log rank p=0.648), while in doctor delay, 30, 30-60, 60 days, the rates were 4.1 (10.8-1.8), 7.6 (13.7-3.2) and 5.3 (16.0-3.0) months respectively (p=0.557). Most patients presented and were treated in a relatively short time, and delays did not appear to influence survival. This Asian data is consistent with those from Western population, reiterating the need for public health measures that can identify disease early..
Keywords :
non , small cell lung cancer , Malaysia , survival , time delay
