Factors leading to delayed and challenging presentation of benign breast lumps in young females

Saira Saleem; Sundus Tariq; Saba Tariq; Sofia Irfan; Farhan Javed

doi:10.12669/pjms.39.1.6647

Factors leading to delayed and challenging presentation of benign breast lumps in young females

Pak J Med Sci. 2023 Jan-Feb;39(1):80-85. doi: 10.12669/pjms.39.1.6647.

Authors

Saira Saleem¹, Sundus Tariq², Saba Tariq³, Sofia Irfan⁴, Farhan Javed⁵

Affiliations

¹ Dr. Saira Saleem, MBBS., FCPS., FRCS. Professor General Surgery, Madinah Teaching Hospital & The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
² Dr. Sundus Tariq, MBBS., MPhil., PhD. Professor Physiology, University Medical & Dental College, The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
³ Dr. Saba Tariq, MBBS., MPhil., PhD. Professor Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University Medical & Dental College, The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
⁴ Dr. Sofia Irfan, MBBS., FCPS. Assistant Professor General Surgery, Allied Hospital & Faisalabad Medical University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
⁵ Dr. Farhan Javed, Associate Professor General Surgery, Madinah Teaching Hospital & The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Abstract

Background and objective: A delayed presentation of benign breast diseases may lead to a therapeutic challenge when they enlarge enormously or become multiple. Aim of this study was to evaluate the factors leading to delayed presentation of benign breast lumps.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Madinah Teaching Hospital and Allied Hospital, Faisalabad from January 2019 to October 2021. One hundred and forty five female patients were selected by non-probability purposive sampling. Patients with large size (>5cm) or multiple benign breast lumps were included. An interview was conducted using structured questionnaire translated in Urdu. Factors leading to delayed presentation and social impact scale for stigma were evaluated.

Results: Patients had a mean age of 26.52 ± 6.90 years. The average delay of seeking medical care was 8.48 ± 8.41 months. Factors leading to delayed presentation were; lack of knowledge n=112 (77.2%) and parda (religious issues) n=112 (77.2%), followed by poverty n=109 (75.2%), and fear of cancer n=90 (62.1%). All the sub-scales of stigma, i.e., social rejection, financial insecurity, internalized shame and social isolation were high in late presenters, though, only financial insecurity was significantly high in late presenters (p=0.03).

Conclusion: Lack of awareness, socioeconomic factors and disease related stigma were the main factors related to delayed presentation in young females with benign breast diseases. Addressing these factors may improve timely diagnosis and management of delayed and challenging cases.

Keywords: Benign Breast disease; Fibroadenoma; Hypertrophy; Social Isolation; Social Stigma.