Cancer Presentation in a Developing Nation: The 3:1 Ratio

Abstract

Phase I delays have been documented to be common in developing countries, including Sub – Saharan Africa (SSA [1-3]. A phase I delay is that caused by the patient’s reluctance to seek medical attention [4]. Late presentation is the order of the day in Sub-Saharan Africa for a multitude of pathologies [5-7], with phase I delays being implicated in a substantial number of articles [8-11]. The outcome of many diseases is a function of the delay in presentation [5]. Phase I delays in general, worsen disease outcomes.