What causes delays in diagnosing blood cancers? A rapid review of the evidence.
Black GB, Boswell L, Harris J, et al. What causes delays in diagnosing blood cancers? A rapid review of the evidence. Prim Health Care Res Dev. 2023;24:e26. doi:10.1017/s1463423623000129.
Delayed cancer diagnosis is a major contributor to suboptimal outcomes and malpractice claims. In this review, factors contributing to delayed diagnosis of blood cancers are explored. Initial delays resulted from patients’ non-specific symptoms such as fatigue and symptoms that came and went. After seeking care, factors contributing to delayed diagnosis include seeing a locum general practitioner, being Black or a woman, and having multiple chronic conditions.