Table 2. Time from presentation to treatment for presenting breast cancer symptoms and other clinical variables.
|
Days from presentation to treatment-geometric mean (95% CI) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N=1069 | Number with symptom (%) | With symptom | Without symptom | P-value |
| Breast lump | 761 (71) | 40 (37–43) | 49 (44–55) | 0.002 |
| Breast pain | 106 (10) | 69 (54–88) | 40 (38–42) | <0.001 |
| Nipple discharge – blood | 9 (1) | 168 (50–567) | 42 (39–44) | <0.001 |
| Lymphadenopathy (axillary/supraclavicular) | 58 (5) | 32 (24–41) | 43 (40–46) | 0.026 |
| Change in skin contour | 134 (13) | 26 (21–31) | 45 (42–48) | <0.001 |
| Ulcerating or fungating lesion | 26 (2) | 17 (9–30) | 43 (41–46) | <0.001 |
| Lump tethered to skin or underlying tissue | 50 (5) | 31 (23–42) | 43 (40–46) | 0.033 |
| Bone pain | 7 (1) | 15 (6–37) | 42 (40–45) | 0.008 |
| Skin discolouration | 12 (1) | 25 (13–48) | 42 (40–45) | 0.080 |
| Fullness/lumpiness/asymmetry | 9 (1) | 75 (32–176) | 42 (39–45) | 0.092 |
| Number of symptoms at presentation | <0.001 | |||
| 0 | 225 (21) | 36 (32–40) | ||
| 1 | 494 (46) | 53 (48–58) | ||
| 2 | 248 (23) | 37 (33–42) | ||
| 3 or more | 102 (10) | 27 (22–34) | ||
| Benign investigations in previous 5 years | 292 (27) | 49 (45–54) | 40 (37–43) | 0.002 |
| Past history of benign breast disease | 220 (21) | 55 (46–64) | 39 (37–42) | <0.001 |
No differences (P>0.10) for nonblood stained nipple discharge, nipple distortion, nipple eczema, breast tenderness, discomfort or itch, breast inflammation, lymphoedema, or past history of anxiety or depression.