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Home » Barriers to lung cancer diagnosis: why people fail to seek help for symptoms
A summary of research published in NPJ Primary Care Respiratory Medicine
A new study investigated reasons why people might delay going to see their family doctor when they experience lung cancer symptoms.
When people first experience lung cancer symptoms, it is important that they visit their family doctor as soon as possible. The earlier lung cancer is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.
Researchers collected information from 35,938 people in Denmark, aged 40 years and over. Participants completed a survey about:
Researchers also gathered information about the participants’ social and economic status, such as their income, job and ethnic group.
There were several findings:
This study provides an important insight into why some people might not seek help for lung cancer symptoms. Survival rates for lung cancer vary but often improve when cancer is detected early. It is crucial to encourage people to visit their doctor when they first notice any symptoms.
The authors suggest that information target the groups who are at risk of delaying appointments. Information should stress that anyone experiencing worrying symptoms should book an appointment with their doctor and that this is never a waste of a doctor’s time.
Read the original research paper:
Title: A population-based study on social inequality and barriers to healthcare-seeking with lung cancer symptoms
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41533-022-00314-7
Access ELF resources on lung cancer:
https://europeanlung.org/en/information-hub/lung-conditions/lung-cancer/
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