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Is increased time to diagnosis and treatment in symptomatic cancer associated with poorer outcomes? Systematic review

British Journal of Cancer · 2015 · Vol. 112(S1) · pp. S92–S107

Richard D Neal✉(Bangor University)Puvan Tharmanathan(University of York)B France(Bangor University)N Din(Bangor University)S Cotton(Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board)Julia Fallon‐Ferguson(University of Western Australia)William Hamilton(University of Exeter)Annie Hendry(Bangor University)Maggie Hendry(Bangor University)Ruth Lewis(University of York)Una Macleod(Hull York Medical School)Elizabeth Mitchell(University of Leeds)Mary Pickett(Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board)Teena Rai(Bangor University)Katie Shaw(University of Western Australia)N Stuart(Bangor University)Marie Louise Tørring(Aarhus University)Clare Wilkinson(Bangor University)Briony Williams(University of Western Australia)Nia Williams(Bangor University)Jon Emery(University of Melbourne)

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Abstract

This is the first review encompassing many cancer types, and we have demonstrated those cancers in which more evidence of an association between shorter times to diagnosis and more favourable outcomes exists, and where it is lacking. We believe that it is reasonable to assume that efforts to expedite the diagnosis of symptomatic cancer are likely to have benefits for patients in terms of improved survival, earlier-stage diagnosis and improved quality of life, although these benefits vary between cancers.

Global Cancer Incidence and Screening Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection Colorectal and Anal CarcinomasMedicineCancerMEDLINEOncologyIntensive care medicineInternal medicineBiology