Fear Factor: Anxiety - a Cause of Delayed Presentation of Oral Cancer

Abstract

If oral cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage, 5-year survival prognosis can be particularly poor. The existing literature indicates that patient anxiety is a contributing factor to patient delay in oral cancer diagnosis. CPD/Clinical Relevance: This article explores the causes of delay in oral cancer diagnosis and encourages practitioners to play an active role in the early diagnosis of oral cancer. Practitioners should appreciate the need to take a holistic approach to patient management and understand that treatment of patients must be tailored to account for their general or specific anxiety issues.