Correlates of Delay in Seeking Treatment for Endometrial Cancer

Susan D. Cochran, Neville F. Hacker, Jonathan S. Berek
In: Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology · 1986 · vol. 5(4) , pp. 245–252 · doi:10.3109/01674828609016764 · W2059505995
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This study found that attributing abnormal bleeding to menopause, marital dissatisfaction, or lack of emotional support significantly delayed endometrial cancer treatment, while alarm over early symptoms prompted quicker care.

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Abstract

In endometrial cancer, early detection is usually facilitated by the onset of abnormal bleeding: Despite this, patients at times evidence considerable delay between onset of abnormal bleeding and seeking medical care. The current study of 37 endometrial cancer patients used semi-structured interviews and questionnaires to evaluate physical, interpersonal, and psychological factors which might be associated with delay in seeking care. Results indicated that women typically delayed between 1 and 4 months before seeking medical care. They generally attributed the causes of the abnormal bleeding to 1 of 3 factors: the menopause, benign bodily dysfunctions, or unusual and alarming processes, including cancer. Those who blamed menopause delayed significantly longer in seeking treatment, while those who reported being alarmed by early symptoms were significantly more likely to seek immediate care. Marital dissatisfaction and a lack of unconditionally positive emotional support was also significantly related to delay in seeking medical care. Results are discussed in light of their importance for gynecologic care of peri- and post-menopausal patients.

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