Physical Examination among Delayed Diagnosis of Breast Cancer Patients

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, with early detection playing a crucial role in improving outcomes. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the physical examination characteristics and the delay in seeking healthcare among breast cancer patients at Rangpur Medical College Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted from November 2015 to April 2016. A total of 62 patients diagnosed with breast cancer were included using simple random sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Results: The age distribution showed 43.54% (27 patients) between 51-60 years, and 21% (13 patients) between 41-50 years, with a mean age of 49.16. Hormonal contraceptive use was reported by 75.8% of patients, and 87% had a history of breastfeeding. A significant 67.74% had never heard of breast self-examination (SBE), and only 9.68% performed SBE. Physical examination revealed that 90.32% had breast lumps, 6.45% had wrinkled nipples, and 3.22% showed puckered skin. Regarding disease stage, 34% presented with stage II, 52% with stage III, and 14% with stage IV. Among stage II patients, 28% had delayed seeking medical attention for more than 3 months, while 81% of stage III patients and 89% of stage IV patients had a similar delay. The average delay in seeking medical care was 3.8 months. Conclusions: A considerable delay in seeking medical attention was observed, leading to advanced-stage breast cancer at presentation. The lack of knowledge regarding SBE emphasizes the need for public health campaigns to promote early detection and reduce delays in seeking care.