Conceptual Framework to Guide Early Diagnosis Programs for Symptomatic Cancer as Part of Global Cancer Control

Koo, Minjoung Monica; Unger‐Saldaña, Karla; Mwaka, Amos Deogratius; Corbex, Marilys; Ginsburg, Ophira; Walter, Fiona M; Calanzani, Natália; Moodley, Jennifer; Rubin, Greg; Lyratzopoulos, Georgios

doi:10.1200/go.20.00310

Cited by 30 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 127 publications

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“…by means of social media accounts. These findings add to the increasing bank of knowledge pointing to the need for multifaceted interventions necessary for improving timely cancer diagnosis [ 31 , 32 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Women’s barriers for contacting general practice when experiencing gynecological cancer symptoms: a population-based study

et al. 2021

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Background A prerequisite for general practitioners (GPs) being able to refer patients with gynecological cancer alarm symptoms for further investigations is that individuals present the symptoms to the GP. Not all symptoms are presented to the GP, and knowledge of barriers for healthcare-seeking is sparse. The aim of this study was to analyze associations between age, socioeconomic status, and common barriers (“being too embarrassed”, “being too busy”, “worried about wasting the doctors time” and “worried what the GP might find”) towards GP contact with gynecological alarm symptoms. Methods Nationwide population-based study in Denmark based on a random sample of 51 090 women aged 20 years or older. A web-based questionnaire regarding experience of four predefined alarm symptoms of gynecological cancer, decisions about contact to GPs, and barriers towards GP contact was distributed. Information about socioeconomic status was collected from Statistics Denmark. Results A total of 26 466 women (54.5%) completed the questionnaire. The proportion of women with no contact to the GP varied between 64.6% and 78.1% for postmenopausal bleeding and pain during intercourse, respectively. Between 32.3% (bleeding during intercourse) and 45.3% (postmenopausal bleeding) of the women reported no barriers for GP contact. The proportions of reported barriers ranged from 7.5% for being too embarrassed (pelvic pain) to 26.8% for being too busy (bleeding during intercourse). Women aged 40–59 years had lower odds of reporting “being too embarrassed” and “worried about wasting the GP´s time”, while women aged 60 + years of age had lower odds of reporting “being too busy” compared to the youngest age group. Women in the highest income groups had lower odds of reporting “being too embarrassed” and “wasting the GP´s time” compared to those with a low income, while those with high educational level had lower odds of reporting “being too embarrassed” and “worried what the GP might find” compared to those with low educational level. Conclusions More than half of the respondents with no contact to the GP, reported one or more barriers towards GP contact. Lower age and socioeconomic status were significantly associated with higher odds of reporting barriers. As this may explain the differences in healthcare seeking behavior, healthcare planners, policy makers and clinicians should be aware of these findings.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Women’s barriers for contacting general practice when experiencing gynecological cancer symptoms: a population-based study

et al. 2021

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“…Therefore, the quest for alternative diagnostic and treatment options are necessary. The key to optimum prognosis of cancer is early detection, which prompt early treatment, improves the survival rate, and limits the spread [21]. Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) and therapy (PDT) are emerging modalities for cancer detection and treatment.…”

Section: Photodynamic Diagnosis (Pdd) and Therapy (Pdt) For Esophageal Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

Targeted Photodynamic Diagnosis and Therapy for Esophageal Cancer: Potential Role of Functionalized Nanomedicine

Didamson

Abrahamse

2021

Pharmaceutics

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Esophageal cancer is often diagnosed at the late stage when cancer has already spread and is characterized by a poor prognosis. Therefore, early diagnosis is vital for a better and efficient treatment outcome. Upper endoscopy with biopsy is the standard diagnostic tool for esophageal cancer but is challenging to diagnose at its premalignant stage, while conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and irradiation therapy, are challenging to eliminate the tumor. Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) and therapy (PDT) modalities that employ photosensitizers (PSs) are emerging diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for esophageal cancer. However, some flaws associated with the classic PSs have limited their clinical applications. Functionalized nanomedicine has emerged as a potential drug delivery system to enhance PS drug biodistribution and cellular internalization. The conjugation of PSs with functionalized nanomedicine enables increased localization within esophageal cancer cells due to improved solubility and stability in blood circulation. This review highlights PS drugs used for PDD and PDT for esophageal cancer. In addition, it focuses on the various functionalized nanomedicine explored for esophageal cancer and their role in targeted PDD and PDT for diagnosis and treatment.

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“…Nevertheless, fast tracks have been useful in diminishing the time between referral and the beginning of cancer treatment [23]. Refining referral guidelines are necessary to clarify the roles of GDPs and GPs in the patient referral pathway, as is the implementation of new interventions aimed at reducing the prereferral interval of patients with oral cancer [27,[51][52][53][54][55].…”

Section: Practical Implications For Research Clinical Practice and Health Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the Presenting Symptom on Time Intervals and Diagnostic Routes of Patients with Symptomatic Oral Cancer

Varela‐Centelles

López

López-Cedrún

et al. 2021

Cancers

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This investigation was aimed at determining the time intervals from the presenting symptoms until the beginning of oral cancer treatment and their relative contribution to the total time, and to assess the impact of the presenting symptom on diagnostic timelines and patient referral routes. A cross-sectional, ambispective study was designed to investigate symptomatic incident cases. The Aarhus statement was used as a conceptual framework. Strategies for minimizing potential recall biases were implemented. A sample of 181 patients was recruited (power: 99.5%; α = 0.05). The patient interval reached 58.2 days (95% CI, 40.3–76.2), which accounted for 74% of the whole prereferral interval and for more than one third of the total time interval. The presenting symptom (trigger for consultation) influenced both the number of primary care consultations and the length of time to diagnosis. General dental practitioners generated longer intervals to diagnosis (p < 0.005) and needed more consultations before referring a patient (RR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.61–0.93), than general medical practitioners. The current study identifies the patient as the main target for interventions to improve awareness and reinforces the need for increased alertness amongst healthcare professionals about presenting symptoms of oral cancer and to diminish the number of prereferral consultations in order to optimize the primary care interval.

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Conceptual Framework to Guide Early Diagnosis Programs for Symptomatic Cancer as Part of Global Cancer Control

Cited by 30 publications

References 127 publications

Women’s barriers for contacting general practice when experiencing gynecological cancer symptoms: a population-based study

Women’s barriers for contacting general practice when experiencing gynecological cancer symptoms: a population-based study

Targeted Photodynamic Diagnosis and Therapy for Esophageal Cancer: Potential Role of Functionalized Nanomedicine

Impact of the Presenting Symptom on Time Intervals and Diagnostic Routes of Patients with Symptomatic Oral Cancer

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