News of a suspected breast cancer causes enough anxiety for the patient; delays in the diagnosis and treatment process make it even worse, says Dr. Alexandra Kovar. She and colleagues reviewed records from 2007-2013 for 63,172 patients with stage 0-II breast cancer from the SEER-Medicare linked claims database to assess time intervals from mammogram to biopsy, surgical consultation and treatment. During the period studied delays decreased from mammogram to biopsy and surgical visit; delays from mammogram to breast surgery increased. A third patients waited more than 60 days from mammogram to breast surgery in 2013, with longer delays in diagnosis and treatment correlated to non-white race, unmarried status, location in northeastern or western US, and urban setting. The study concluded with a call for defined metrics and implementation of more efficient care processes to address delays – and minimize patient distress.
