‘I Thought it Would Go Away’: Patient Denial in Breast Cancer

Abstract

A significant proportion of patients with cancer present late to the doctor. The characteristics of these patients and the reasons behind their delaying behaviour is poorly understood. In this study a group of 30 women with breast cancer who delayed their presentation were compared with a randomly selected group with the same disease. The women who presented late did not appear to fit into any particular socio-demographic category, but examination of their histories revealed widespread denial of illness and a diversity of beliefs and behaviour.