Revealing Roadblocks: Determinants Influencing Diagnostic Delays in Geriatric Cancer Patients – A Case Series Analysis at a Tertiary Cancer Center

Abstract

Background

This study delves into the critical issues related to delay in diagnosis and associated factors surrounding cancer care in the elderly, particularly focusing on the Indian demographic. The research approved by an institutional ethics committee, involved analyzing patient records and conducting interviews at a hospital to understand the time taken for cancer diagnosis and initiation of treatment in older patients.

Method and Result

A total of 80 study participants with histologically confirmed cancers were included in this study. The majority of patients belonged to the 65–75 years age group (n = 62, 77.5%). Only 18 (22.5%) were in the age group of 76–85 years. Of the total patients, the disease was confined to the primary site in 45 (56.2%) and it had nodal spread or metastasized in 35 (43.7%) at the time of first diagnosis. After treatment completion, during the first month of follow-up, 2 cases of gastrointestinal cancer died, and 1 case of genitourinary and other cancers died. During the second month of follow-up, 3 cases of gastrointestinal cancer died, 4 cases of genitourinary cancer died, and 2 cases of other cancers died. During the sixth month of follow-up, 2 cases of head & neck and genitourinary cancer died, and 5 cases of gastrointestinal and other cancers died.

Conclusion

The study highlights the need for increased awareness of delays in diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the geriatric age group and government intervention in the form of setting up geriatric cancer units to provide affordable cancer treatment aiming to improve the quality of life survival rates in this vulnerable population.