Factors impacting the time to ovarian cancer diagnosis based on classic symptom presentation in the United States
Delay in diagnosis is said to be common in ovarian cancer. There is little scientific evidence for this claim. One factor, said to be implicated in the delay, is the vague nature of symptoms.
This retrospective study looked at almost 14,000 women with ovarian cancer. Data obtained from Medicare claims history showed the interval from presenting with any initial typical symptom to diagnosis. Classic symptoms of possible ovarian cancer are pain, distension, early satiety, and urinary dysfunction.
Results from the study showed the delay after initial presentation, with a mean of three months and a median of one month. Black women, those with multiple symptoms, and those whose first Medicare claim was through an emergency centre, did worse. Improvement is shown with a reduction in delay of about 13% in the last five year period (2011-15) when compared to the initial one (1992-99).
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