Variation in waiting times from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer patients in Alberta from 1997--2000

There is considerable evidence that delays in diagnosing and treating breast cancer reduce long-term survival. The purpose of this study was to assess the waiting time between diagnosis and treatment for Alberta women with breast cancer and to examine the influence of age, cancer stage, Regional Health Authority (RHA), community size, and year of diagnosis on this time interval.; The data were obtained from the Alberta Cancer Board. The information included approximately all Alberta women with breast cancer between 1997 and 2000.; The overall median waiting time was 17 days. The mean and median delay increased by an average of two days each year. Only 43.8% of cases were treated within the recommended 14 days. The delay was significantly longer for women younger than 70, with stage 1 disease and from Northern RHAs. Efforts must be made to decrease delay and ensure that all women receive equal access to health services.