Why do we treat mouth cancer in advanced stages?
2015; Volume: 25; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.5935/2238-3182.20150079
ISSN2238-3182
AutoresJoão Marcos Arantes Soares, Gustavo Waldolato, Leonardo de Queiroz Gomes Belligoli, Louise Lanna NUNES, Pedro Messeder Caldeira Bretas, Severino Correia do Prado Neto, Viviane Bigodeiro dos SANTOS,
Tópico(s)Oral health in cancer treatment
ResumoIn Brazil, hospital cancer records reveal the mouth as the eighth most frequent location of malignant tumors, most of them being diagnosed at advanced stages. In developed countries, diagnosis of late rates is about 40%. Early diagnosis and treatment represent increased chances of a cure, low cost, and less morbidity. This article aims to assess the possible reasons for delays in the diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer and reflects on the reasons. The terms mouth neoplasias, diagnosis, epidemiology, and therapy were introduced in the MEDLINE, LILACS, and SciELO databases. A total of 31 studies published between 1995 and 2011 were analyzed, which discoursed about the delayed diagnosis in relation to patients, professionals, and healthcare systems. It was observed that the diagnostic delay was associated with: a) patients: single, alcoholic, and afraid of the diagnosis; b) Professionals: little knowledge on the subject and high workload; c) healthcare systems: queues for medical care, distance between the patient’s residence and healthcare units and reference centers, and negative experiences in the healthcare service. It is critical to understand the possible causes of delay and limitations of healthcare services and its professionals for appropriate actions to take place individually and collectively providing early diagnosis and treatment to these patients.
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