Prognostic implications of emergency admission and delays in patients with breast cancer

This study evaluates clinical-pathological characteristics and survival rates associated with emergency admission and delays in diagnosis and treatment of 411 consecutive breast cancer patients. Emergency admission and first symptom-first hospital visit delay were significantly associated with advanced tumor stages but only in the former case with short disease-free survival (RR 2.5, CI 95% 1.5-4.2). Brief diagnostic delays were significantly associated with advanced disease stage and poor survival rates (RR 2.04; CI 95% 1.08-3.82) probably because sicker patients receive prompt medical attention.