How do delays in diagnosis impact patient outcomes?
Delays in cancer diagnosis can have a profound impact on patient outcomes. Early detection is critical in improving survival rates, as it often leads to less aggressive treatment and better prognoses. Delays can occur due to lack of access to screening services, long waiting times for diagnostic tests, and delayed referrals from primary care providers to specialists. These delays can result in cancers being diagnosed at more advanced stages, which are harder to treat and have lower survival rates.
