OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the factors causing a delay in the definitive treatment of histologically-confirmed breast cancer patients seen at the Breast Center of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC). It is also aimed to describe the dissimilarity of patients who were treated early and those patients whose treatment were delayed beyond 1 month, in terms of demographic, economic, clinical factors and cultural factors.

METHODS: A survey of all histologically- confirmed breast cancer female patients seen at the Breast Cancer of VSMMC from December 2008 to May 2009 were evaluated in terms of demographic, economic, clinical and cultural factors. Statistical analysis using t-test and chi-square were used to determine factors associated with delayed treatment.

RESULTS: The mean age all patients was 50.73 = 1.34. The mean age (54.5 = 2.15) of patients under early treatment group was significantly older compared to the mean age (48.9 = 1.64) of patients in the delayed treatment group (t-test), P-value < 0.05. Significant proportions of married respondents (31/45 = 68.9%) belonged to the delayed treatment group. Fifty-five percent of patients belonged to the delayed treatment group had locally advanced breast cancer, 50 percent were in Stage 3B and 5.3 percent were in stage 3C.

CONCLUSION: In this study, 68 percent of the participants who had been diagnosed to have histopathologically- confirmed breast cancer had delayed consultation. Being married, living within the metropolitan area, educational attainment are significant factors that delayed treatment as well as the fear of treatment and consultation to traditional healers.