Clinical characterization of patients with diagnosis of lung cancer in Joaquin Albarran´s Teaching Hospital

5^th World Congress on Cancer Therapy

September 28-30, 2015 Atlanta, USA

Joan Fabian Fernandez de la Vega

Internal Medicine Department, General Calixto Garcia�´s Teaching Hospital, Cuba

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Cancer Sci Ther

Abstract :

Introduction: Lung cancer is one of the major causes of global mortality. A delay in diagnosis is a significant contributory factor affecting survival rates and prognosis. Objective: To identify the clinical characteristics of patients with a histological diagnosis of lung cancer at Joaquin Albarran�´s Teaching Hospital, Havana, Cuba, between 2007 and 2010 and to assess the different delays in diagnosis times. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study of patients diagnosed with lung cancer was undertaken to determine the delays in diagnosis corresponding to the patient and the National Health System (inclusive of primary care and the secondary health system). Results: Of the 54 patients included in the study, 74.1% were male, predominantly in the age group of 51-60 years old. The first symptoms experienced by patients were identified as cough, dyspnea and weight loss in 43, 29 and 21 patients respectively. 61.1 5 of all patients had first presented at the primary care level. The mean delays in diagnosis at the levels of primary and secondary care were identified as 16.2 and 29.1 days respectively. It was observed that the mean patient-dependent delay was 36.05 days, and found to constitute the majority of the total diagnostic delay time. The symptoms that were found to motivate patients to seek medical care within seven days were cough and dyspnea. Conclusions: The delay in diagnosis of lung cancer is considerably influenced by patient-dependent factors. Cough and dyspnea are the main reasons patients will seek medical care.

Biography :

Email: jfabian@infomed.sld.cu, jfabian84@nauta.cu