Patients' Delay in the Presentation of Testis Cancer in Ireland

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Abstract
Summary— A study of 217 cases of testis cancer in Ireland revealed a longer duration of symptoms (median 2.8 months, mean 10 months) than elsewhere: 32% of patients waited at least 6 months before seeking medical advice. Delay was associated with metastases (P=0.001), diminished prospects of cure (P=0.001) and increased mortality (P=0.002) but not with marker status or complexity of treatment required. Eleven per cent did not notice a detectable swelling and 25% waited at least 3 months after such a discovery. These facts and the incidence of maldescent (12%, with more than two-thirds untreated) highlight the need for better health education in this area.