Table 2 Summary of the reported time to seek medical advice for a possible breast cancer symptom, stratified by eligibility status to undergo a screening mammography.
Category of sym ptoms | BC sign/symptom | Screening-ineligible (n = 2168) | Screening-eligible (n = 628) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Breast symptoms | A lump or thickening in the breast | |||
Immediately | 1097 (50.6) | 293 (46.7) | 0.13 | |
≤ 7 days | 970 (44.7) | 294 (46.8) | ||
> 7 days | 45 (2.1) | 20 (3.2) | ||
Never | 56 (2.6) | 21 (3.3) | ||
Puckering or dimpling of the breast skin | ||||
Immediately | 575 (26.5) | 203 (32.3) | 0.018 | |
≤ 7 days | 1011 (46.6) | 285 (45.4) | ||
> 7 days | 56 (2.6) | 15 (2.4) | ||
Never | 526 (24.3) | 125 (19.9) | ||
Pain in one of the breasts or armpits | ||||
Immediately | 549 (25.3) | 186 (29.6) | 0.046 | |
≤ 7 days | 1099 (50.7) | 307 (48.9) | ||
> 7 days | 113 (5.2) | 20 (3.2) | ||
Never | 407 (18.8) | 115 (18.3) | ||
Redness of the breast skin | ||||
Immediately | 473 (21.8) | 182 (29.0) | < 0.001 | |
≤ 7 days | 944 (43.5) | 295 (47.0) | ||
> 7 days | 74 (3.4) | 10 (1.6) | ||
Never | 677 (31.2) | 141 (22.5) | ||
Nipple symptoms | Discharge or bleeding from the nipple | |||
Immediately | 954 (44.0) | 280 (44.6) | 0.33 | |
≤ 7 days | 1068 (49.3) | 298 (47.5) | ||
> 7 days | 37 (1.7) | 8 (1.3) | ||
Never | 109 (5.0) | 42 (6.7) | ||
Pulling in of the nipple | ||||
Immediately | 607 (28.0) | 214 (34.1) | 0.028 | |
≤ 7 days | 1024 (47.2) | 276 (43.9) | ||
> 7 days | 72 (3.3) | 16 (2.5) | ||
Never | 465 (21.4) | 122 (19.4) | ||
Change in the position of the nipple | ||||
Immediately | 585 (27.0) | 212 (33.8) | 0.010 | |
≤ 7 days | 1074 (49.5) | 289 (46.0) | ||
> 7 days | 69 (3.2) | 16 (2.5) | ||
Never | 440 (20.3) | 111 (17.7) | ||
Nipple rash | ||||
Immediately | 572 (26.4) | 195 (31.1) | 0.040 | |
≤ 7 days | 1036 (47.8) | 299 (47.6) | ||
> 7 days | 53 (2.4) | 10 (1.6) | ||
Never | 507 (23.4) | 124 (19.7) | ||
Other symptoms | Lump or thickening under the armpit | |||
Immediately | 937 (43.2) | 278 (44.3) | 0.90 | |
≤ 7 days | 1020 (47.0) | 288 (45.9) | ||
> 7 days | 54 (2.5) | 18 (2.9) | ||
Never | 157 (7.2) | 44 (7.0) | ||
Changes in the shape of the breast or nipple | ||||
Immediately | 671 (31.0) | 235 (37.4) | 0.011 | |
≤ 7 days | 1037 (47.8) | 286 (45.5) | ||
> 7 days | 65 (3.0) | 17 (2.7) | ||
Never | 395 (18.2) | 90 (14.3) | ||
Changes in the size of the breast or nipple | ||||
Immediately | 628 (29.0) | 229 (36.5) | < 0.001 | |
≤ 7 days | 999 (46.1) | 282 (44.9) | ||
> 7 days | 70 (3.2) | 15 (2.4) | ||
Never | 471 (21.7) | 102 (16.2) | ||
Unexplained weight loss | ||||
Immediately | 283 (13.1) | 114 (18.2) | < 0.001 | |
≤ 7 days | 624 (28.8) | 210 (33.4) | ||
> 7 days | 242 (11.2) | 70 (11.1) | ||
Never | 1019 (47.0) | 234 (37.3) | ||
Extreme generalized fatigue | ||||
Immediately | 241 (11.1) | 88 (14.0) | 0.006 | |
≤ 7 days | 832 (38.4) | 265 (42.2) | ||
> 7 days | 84 (3.9) | 30 (4.8) | ||
Never | 1011 (46.6) | 245 (39.0) | ||
