Estudo do tempo de espera para o diagnóstico do câncer de mama em mulheres de uma região da Amazônia brasileira

Abstract

In Brazil, the breast cancer is the most frequent neoplasm among women in all regions and the breast cancer mortality in the country is on the rise, fact that can be attributed to the delay in diagnosis and in the institution of treatment. Studies like this one are essential to produce information that will support the planning of actions, the direction of decision-making and the development of public policies to oncological attention to facilitate the access to health services and to reduce the waiting time for the diagnosis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the factors which influence the waiting time for the breast cancer diagnosis. This is a cross-sectional observational study, which had 68 participants, recruited in the city of Macapa, state of Amapa, who answered an electronic questionnaire about the history of breast cancer diagnosis. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis and the data were presented in mean, median, standard deviation, minimum and maximum, absolute and relative frequency. They were divided into two groups, considering the period of 60 days: without delay for diagnosis, with 25 (37%) women, and with delay indiagnosis, with 43 (63%). The average time to diagnosis among women withoutdelay and with delay was 31.0 (Min-Max=3.0-60.0) and 201.0 (Min-Max=64.0- 1649.0) days, respectively. Several factors may have influenced the waiting time for the diagnosis of breast cancer, highlighting the delay for the first appointment, the delay in issuing the histopathological and immunohistochemical reports, the false- negative results and the delay for the access to specialized care. Thus, it is necessary the search for strategies aimed at full assistance to women's health, aiming to reduce the waiting time from cancer detection to treatment.