Delays in Breast Cancer Treatment Significantly Increase Two-Year Mortality Risk

A recent multicenter study conducted across ten hospitals in Spain has established a significant link between delays in breast cancer diagnosis and increased mortality risk within two years. The research, led by Dr. Desirée Martín-García at Hospital Universitario Costa del Sol, analyzed 543 symptomatic patients diagnosed between 2013 and 2015. It found that patients experiencing treatment delays longer than 90 days from initial symptoms to medical consultation faced more than three times the risk of death within two years compared to those with shorter wait times. The study identified living alone as a key factor independently associated with such prolonged delays, increasing the likelihood of postponement by approximately 88%. Patients who sought medical attention within 90 days had a 3.2% mortality rate, whereas those with delays exceeding three months faced an 11.7% mortality rate. Extended delays remained a significant predictor of mortality even after accounting for other variables, alongside advanced disease stages and age. Notably, individuals with basal-like immunophenotype tumors exhibited the highest mortality risk among subtypes. These findings underscore the importanc...